- PETER HAIN GIVES SUPPORT TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM INITIATIVE - CHANGE OF HIGH COMMISSIONER TO WINDHOEK - MINISTERIAL ENGAGEMENTS

31 Oct 2001 12:00 AM

PETER HAIN GIVES SUPPORT TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM INITIATIVE

Foreign Officer Minister Peter Hain today met members of the UK outbound tourism industry and NGOs to discuss sustainable tourism practices. After the meeting he said:

''This week I met some of the organisations involved in the Sustainable Tourism Initiative (STI). This is a new and broadly based initiative to encourage environmentally friendly tourism and to ensure that tourism brings economic benefits shared by all sections of the communities in the destinations. I was greatly encouraged by their commitment to this demanding task.

''The STI aims to ensure that tourism, as well as giving an enjoyable experience to the visitor, also improves the quality of life of the local people. For example, imaginative communications encourage tourists to preserve the local environment and visit local communities providing a boost to the economies. Promotion of local suppliers provides more secure local livelihoods. And tourism developments can be undertaken so that, rather than make excessive demands on scarce local resource, they preserve the environment for the benefit of both the local community and the visitors.

''Tourism has been hard hit by the tragic events of 11 September. However the commitment to maintain a focus on these long term goals will help to create an environmental friendly industry that gives real economic and social benefits to local communities. This will build a strong base to take full benefit from the recovery in tourism.

Notes For Editors

1. The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) will be held in Johannesburg in September 2002. As part of the UK preparations, the Prime Minister committed, in his speech of 6th March, to lead personally sustainable development initiatives with five business sectors - tourism, energy, forestry, water and finance.

2. The Sustainable Tourism Initiative is a partnership of over forty organisations concerned with outbound tourism from the UK. It embraces large and small tourist companies, industry associations, NGOs, academic institutions and Government. These organisations are working together to create a step change in sustainable tourism practice.

3. Mr Hain met representatives of 14 of the organisations taking part in the STI.

4. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is providing Government input to this initiative and #150,000 of financial support to the process.

CHANGE OF HIGH COMMISSIONER TO WINDHOEK

Alasdair MacDermott has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia in succession to Brian Donaldson who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.

Mr MacDermott will take up his new appointment in early April 2002.

CURRICULUM VITAE Full Name: Alasdair Tormod MacDermott Date of Birth: 17 September 1945 Marital Status: Married (Gudrun) Children: 2 daughters from first marriage

Career 1998-2001 FCO (Head of Section, Southern African Department) 1995-1998 ANKARA (Commercial Secretary) 1995-1995 FCO (Turkish language training) 1994-1994 HANOI (Temporary duty) 1992-1994 FCO (South Asian Department) 1991-1991 CASTRIES (Temporary Duty. Acting Resident Representative) 1986-1991 TOKYO (Press Officer) 1983-1986 COLOMBO (Second Secretary, Political) 1982-1983 ACCRA (Temporary Duty in Togoland) 1979-1982 TOKYO (Second Secretary, Commercial and Information) 1978-1979 TOKYO (Full time Japanese language training, Kamakura) 1977-1978 FCO (Full time Japanese language training, School of Oriental and African Studies) 1977-1979 FCO (Conference Unit. International and EU Conferences) 1973-1977 ACCRA (Aid Attache) 1973 FCO (Consular Department) 1971-1973 KABUL (Assistant Administration Officer and Accountant) 1968-1971 FCO (International Claims Department) 1966-1968 FCO (South East Asian Department) 1966 Entered FCO

MINISTERIAL ENGAGEMENTS

In addition to their regular official and parliamentary duties, FCO Ministers have the following public engagements:

MR STRAW Visit to Moscow

BARONESS SYMONS 1430 House of Lords Questions

1530 Esperanza Aguirre, Spanish Senate

MR HAIN 1700 Pierre Moscovici, French Europe Minister

2000 Dinner hosted by Daniel Bernard, French Ambassador, Kensington Palace Gardens

BARONESS AMOS 0930 Oxfam: New African Initiative (NAI)

1430 House of Lords Questions

MR BRADSHAW 1300 Lunch with Moroccan and other Maghreb Ambassadors

1500 Prime Minister''s Questions, House of Commons

DR MACSHANE Visit to Hong Kong

All Foreign Office press releases, including statements and speeches by Ministers can be read on our website www.fco.gov.uk. If you are interested in this or related subjects, please register with the website; releases will then be emailed to you automatically.