www.allAfrica.com -"Tourism as a factor of tolerance and bringing cultures together" was the theme of a one- day colloquium organized last week by the Ministry of Tourism in Tunis .
Experts, diplomats, professionals as well as representatives of the tourist sector in the 5+5 countries associating the five countries of the Arab Maghreb with five European countries, took part in the event whose primary goal is the setting up of sustainable management methods in the sector of tourism.
The colloquium aimed at reinforcing relations between the countries of the Mediterranean region insofar as the promotion of the cultural, economic, ecological and archeological dimension of each country is concerned.
The event also concretized one of the recommendations of the 'Hammamet Declaration' concerning sustainable development, as well as the project dubbed 'Medina', which consists of the launch of a portal achieved with the help of 11 Mediterranean countries destined to guide the potential tourist in choosing by himself , his or her choice destination.
Mr Tijani Haddad, Tunisia 's Minister of tourism said on the occasion that the Mediterranean countries are called upon to adapt tourism in the area, to promote the values of tolerance, dialogue and openness between cultures and civilizations, but also between people.
He also added that tourism was one of the main sectors concerned by the environment. "The stress must be placed on finding ways of striking the right balance between progress, the environment and sustainable development, while avoiding overexploitation and the waste of natural resources such as water" he said.
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