Colombian Government Wants Cartagena to Host WTO Congress in 2007

Colombian authorities expressed to World Tourism Organization’s Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli, during his recent visit to Bogota, the South American country’s intention to organize the next General Assembly of the WTO, scheduled for 2007.

Colombia’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Jorge Humberto Botero, voiced that view at the end of a meeting between Mr. Frangialli and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, in which the two parts inked an agreement aimed at strengthening the promotion and advance of Colombia’s travel industry.

The Colombian request to host the WTO General Assembly will be officially presented in November during this year’s conclave in the capital of Senegal.

Mr. Frangialli’s visit took place within the framework of the annual travel tradeshow organized by Colombia’s National Association of Travel & Tourism Agencies (ANATO).

The 2005 edition of the Travel Tradeshow stretched out from Monday through Wednesday with a turnout of 28 countries, including Brazil as the nation of honor and the debut of Trinidad & Tobago.

Mr. Frangialli came to Colombia with a backlog of official powwows and the intention to visit Cartagena Beach, the country’s premier travel destination.