The names of the panelists will be updated soon.

AUA ECOTOURISM CONFERENCE 2019: THE ROLE OF PROTECTED AREAS IN ARMENIA’S SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT 

Date: August 30-31, 2019
Objective: To generate discussion on sustainable tourism in protected areas in Armenia, specifically identifying their potential and paths for sustainable tourism
Outcome: Action agenda on identifying the role of protected areas in Armenia’s sustainable tourism development

DAY 1 – August 30, 2019 (download here)
9։00 – 9։30 Registration
9:30 – 9:45 Opening
9։45 – 10։30
30 min talk, 15 Q&A		 The Global Ecotourism Market: The Trends and How Armenia Can Tap into Opportunities
Speaker: Mr. Jon Bruno, Executive Director, The International Ecotourism Society
10։30 – 11։30
40 min talk, 20 Q&A		 Economic Impact of Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas: Global Evidence
Speaker: Dr. Thiago Souza, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, Tourism Specialist Group
11։30 – 12։00 Coffee Break
12։00 – 13։30 Panel 1: ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF ARMENIA’S PROTECTED AREAS

a) What can/should Armenia’s PAs offer tourists?
b) How can we better capture the economic potential of PAs?
13:30-14:30 Lunch
14։30-15։30
40 min talk, 20 Q&A		 Protecting protected areas from environmentally and socially unsustainable tourism: standards, charters, legislation, and private initiatives.
Speaker: Ms. Carol Richie, Executive Director, EUROPARC Federation
15։30 – 17։00 Panel 2: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF TOURISM IN PROTECTED AREAS

a) How should Armenia ensure that communities surrounding PAs benefit from increased tourism?
b) How should Armenia ensure that tourism protects and benefits the environment in PAs?
17:00-17:15 Quick Coffee break
17:15 – 18:00 Closing of Day 1:
Discussion of key points to be included in the Action Agenda.