The World Tourism Organisation has appointed Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi as Special Ambassador of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism 2017.
Samoa's PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Photo: RNZI Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
The appointment was made at a ceremony in New York on the side of the UN Ocean Conference.
At the conference, Tuilaepa addressed participants on the value of tourism to sustainably advance the blue economy.
Tuilaepa said the tourism sector has the potential to contribute to the fight against poverty, help curb climate change, promote gender equality and foster mutual understanding and peace amongst diverse cultures.
