The Regional Director for Tourism participates in this week's Conference on Sustainable Development of Tourism in the Islands, an initiative promoted by the World Tourism Organisation that will take place on the island of Reunion.

The conference, which begins Wednesday, September 11, will address a series of relevant issues for Small Island Developing States - SIDS, such as competitiveness and prospects of sustainability, in addition to identifying challenges and vulnerabilities as well as examples of relevant actions.

This meeting will also be an opportunity to share with the international community, particularly with government officials and experts, the knowledge and experiences for tourism in island regions.

Furthermore, the event will debate the progress of international efforts undertaken to reinforce the sustainable development of tourism, taking into account their specific situation.

The conclusions of the conference will serve as guidelines for tourism authorities and relevant destinations as well as for the international community, being a contribution to the 3rd International Conference on Small Island Developing States. This Conference is scheduled for September 2014 on the island of Samoa and it was proposed by the United Nations as a continuation of the Rio+20 Conference.