Turkey to host UN tourism meeting next year

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Turkey will host a joint annual meeting of the United Nations’ culture and tourism agencies in 2018, Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Numan Kurtulmuş has said.

Next year’s meeting for the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) may be held in Istanbul, though they are still considering other cities as possible choices for the venue, Kurtulmuş told state-run broadcaster TRT in Oman’s capital Muscat on Dec. 12.

He said Turkey, as the host for the meeting next year, will have the “golden opportunity” to introduce its tourism and diverse culture to the world.

The minister was attending this year’s annual meeting of the U.N. agencies in Muscat.

“The protection of the identity of Muslims in Jerusalem was raised at an international forum,” he said, adding that it was Turkey’s responsibility to raise the issue globally.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on Dec. 6 has drawn sharp criticism from the international community.