About the World Ecotourism Conferences

OBJECTIVES:
The World Ecotourism Conference is organized by DISCOVERYMICE, an affiliate member of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). The Conference is an ambitious initiative to bring global ecotourism players together to network, collaborate and share their experiences, best practices and technologies for the advancement of nature conservation, environment protection, renewable energies, preservation of communities and their cultures and consequently the advancement of ecotourism around the world.

A key objective of the World Ecotourism Conference is to help and support host countries that are in need of a global platform to champion, position or support ecotourism policies and initiatives that will bring transformational changes for the betterment of their economies, people or environment. In addition to Government facilitation, the private sector, academia and civil societies have an obligation to pool their resources and realize common aims and objectives; a concerted commitment to enshrine ecotourism principles, sustainable development and best practices in national tourism policies.

ORGANISATION
The World Ecotourism Conference is the most prestigious ecotourism conference to be organized for both public and private sector tourism players in the ecotourism fraternity. With the support of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Asia Pacific Ecotourism Society (APES) as well as encouragement of various ecotourism societies and associations worldwide, the World Ecotourism Conference usually invites over 30 renowned speakers and moderators and attracts between 250 to 600 key tourism players from over 30 countries. It attracts extensive media coverage in the region and around the world.

BENEFITS
The World Ecotourism Conference will enable top industry policy makers, stakeholders, sellers and buyers of eco-based tourism products to meet and share common ideas beneficial to all parties. It provides an excellent opportunity to network with eco-tour operators, eco-hotels/resorts, travel-trade partners, industry experts and gather the latest information, trends and updates, exchanging business and development ideas and exploring other untapped market segments and opportunities in the region.

The event will feature some of world's best authority in sustainable tourism and ecotourism as well as eco-sites and projects with best practices in local community welfare and wildlife conservation, and most importantly to market and manage the business of ecotourism.

Gallery

WEC2012-South Korea

 

WEC2011-Cambodia

 

WEC2010-Malaysia

 

WEC2009-Lao PDR

 

History

  • 2009

    1st World Ecotourism Conference, Vientiane, Lao PDR (15-17, July, 2009)
    "New Paradigms and Resilience for Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in Developing Countries"

    This 1st World Ecotourism Conference attracted over 300 speakers and delegates from 30 countries. 28 keynote and guest speakers from 13 countries. The conference concluded with the first ever ecotourism declaration in Asia and the Pacific - "Vientiane Declaration on Ecotourism for Developing Countries", and setting a proud and historic day for Lao PDR, emerging as one of the leading ecotourism destinations in the region,

  • 2010

    2nd World Ecotourism Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (8-11, July, 2010)
    "Urban Ecotourism and Biodiversity Hotspots in Developing Countries: Shifting Paradigms and Strategic Adaptations"

    The 2nd World Ecotourism Conference recorded 350 speakers and delegates from 45 countries. In attendance were 48 speakers from 18 countries including 10 young volunteers from 9 countries, including Malaysia. The Conference debated on the definition of ecotourism, comparing and deliberating on developmental and commercial viewpoints as well as exploring into the "uncharted" and controversial urban ecotourism, generally identified in many developing countries.

  • 2011

    3rd World Ecotourism Conference, Sihanoukville, Cambodia (3-5, October, 2011)
    "Charting the Future of Ecotourism in Asia"

    The 3rd World Ecotourism Conference was staged in Sihanoukville Province which is Cambodia's  premier beach destination. The Opening was well attended with over 600 dignitaries and invitees. There were over 400 speakers and delegates from over 40 countries. The iconic conference successfully concluded with the "Sihanoukville Declaration on Multilateral Cooperation for Ecotourism Development".

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2012

4th World Ecotourism Conference, Gyeonggi, South Korea (2-5, September, 2012)
Ecotourism for Global Peace
Held at the Korea International Exhibition Centre in Gyeonggi, South Korea, 350 eminent speakers and delegates from over 30 countries attended this important conference which helped to garner support for ecotourism development and peace at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea.

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The technical tour to the DMZ area was especially meaningful and ecotourism leaders from United States, Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan and Korea attended to provide their support for peace.
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