The Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister traveled to the Marshall Islands to host the 2023 Austronesian Forum, along with current Marshall Islands President David Kabua, former Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine, tribal chiefs, and about 110 representatives from 15 countries and regions attended the discussion on crucial issues related to the Austronesians.
Icyang Parod, minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples hosted the 2023 Austronesian Forum to talk about sustainable development.Photo provided by Council of Indigenous Peoples
Icyang Parod, minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples, stated that each ethnic group has a distinctive style of interacting with one another and wisdom for the mountains, woods, rivers, oceans, and land in which they dwell. Particularly, tourism and sightseeing are intimately tied to the regions where the Austronesian people live. Future efforts to combat climate change will need to go in the direction of environmental sustainable development.
Representatives from Austronesian nations discuss the growth of sustainable tourism at the 2023 Austronesian Forum.Photo provided by Council of Indigenous Peoples
The founding member of the Austronesian Forum, according to Marshall Islands President David Kabua, is the Marshall Islands. He believes that through sharing their traditional knowledge, culture, and innovation, Austronesian people can transform the world. Representatives from other nations also expect to share the economic advantages of tourism, grow it locally, and conserve traditional culture all at the same time.