During 4-10 March 2019, Ms. Elcia Grandcourt, Director of the Regional Department for Africa attended the 61st Airports Council International (ACI) for Africa’s Board & Regional Committees meetings and Regional Conference and Exhibition in Luxor, Egypt.

The event was attended by, among others, members from ACI Africa airports, global airport operators, international organizations, aviation organizations, and global business partners.

Ms. Grandcourt was invited to participate as a panelist in the round table session on Open Skies and Tourism. The session was moderated by Mr. Kevin Caron, Director of Capacity Building Programmes and Airports Council International (ACI World). Joining the UNWTO Director for Africa as panelists were Mr. Miguel Southwell, President & CEO, Brakkam Aviation Management (Past CEO of Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport), Mr. Khaled Chelly, Area manager, Austria and central Europe, Tunis Air, Mr.  Branlat  Guillaume, Président du Directoire, Aéroport de la Réunion Roland Garros.  

The round table session touched on the importance of both the tourism industry and the aviation industry and the pivotal relationship between the two sectors. During her presentation, Ms. Grandcourt explained that, according to the UNWTO Barometer, in 2018, international tourist arrivals increased by 6% to 1.4 billion. After the Middle East, Africa experienced the second-highest increase, with international arrivals up by 7% to 67 million tourists.