The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Republic of Korea are teaming up to sponsor a series of tourism projects in the least developed countries of the Asia-Pacific region, it was announced Saturday.

UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Korean Tourism Minister Kim Myung Gon last Thursday launching the new collaboration program. The projects will focus on activities that help transfer technical tourism knowledge to developing countries in the region through new training programs, particularly in the areas of marketing, promotion and research, UNWTO said in a release.

The UNWTO release also stated that Seoul already hosts the headquarters of UNWTO's ST-EP Foundation - dedicated to poverty alleviation through tourism - and helped start the foundation with an initial grant of US$5 million.

"I am delighted by this new initiative from the Republic of Korea, as well as their continued support for the ST-EP Foundation. It is evidence of Korea's serious commitment to tourism, not only as a way of boosting its
national economy, but also as a way of contributing to the prosperity of the entire region," said Frangialli.

While in Korea, the secretary-general also held talks with Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun and Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon aimed at solidifying bi-lateral relations between the UN specialized agency and the
Republic of Korea.

The leaders discussed ways that tourism can effectively assist in economic development, as well as how tourism can help improve international understanding and build peace in the global community, UNWTO said.