The African Union Ministers responsible for Tourism endorsed the crucial role of the Tourism sector in the attainment of the main goals of the AU Agenda 2063 of continental integration, prosperity and peace.
The declaration of the Ministers is followed by the outcomes of a day-long experts’ First Ordinary Session of the Sub-Committee on Tourism of the Specialized Technical Committee on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, Energy and Tourism (STC-TTIET) that was held recently in Nairobi, Republic of Kenya.
The Ministers urge Member States to implement practical measures to facilitate the free movement of persons and goods in the Continent, in particular the removal of visa requirement.
Hon. Priscah Mupfumira’s, Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry and Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Tourism of the STC-TTIET says: “It is envisaged that the Continental Tourism Framework will provide a clear roadmap of activities towards the achievement of the African Union objectives, within the framework of AU Agenda 2063 First Ten Year Implementation Plan.”
H.E Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the AUC states that the African Union Commission has long recognized the crucial importance of Tourism to the achievement of the aspirations of AU Agenda 2063. “The AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government have decided to work collectively towards making: Africa the Preferred Destination for Tourism in the world as the overall goal of Tourism under the agenda 2063 framework”, she says
Also, Hon. Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism & Wildlife of the Republic of Kenya reiterates that Africa has better products and emphasized the need to establish the African Tourism Organization as an innovation platform to market the enormous touristic product of the continent.
“Across Africa, Tourism is one of the highest potential sectors for improving societies, economies and livelihoods. More than 62 million international arrivals in 2017 earned the region 38 billion US dollars”, says Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary General.
Source: AU