PR No.: PR12004

“Africa has been one of the fastest growing tourism regions of the last decade,” said Mr. Rifai addressing Spanish investors and African tourism stakeholders at INVESTOUR. “With the right investment, tourist arrivals will continue to grow, investors will see excellent returns, jobs will be created and the entire economy will benefit.”  

Speakers at the Forum echoed Mr. Rifai’s remarks, underscoring the importance of tourism to the continent in terms of its socio-economic development. Mr. Bello Bouba Maigari, Minister of Tourism and Leisure of Cameroon, spoke of how tourism projects across Central Africa were helping thousands to cross the poverty line. Mr. Nyamajeje Calleb Weggoro of the East African Community (EAC) highlighted Africa’s many tourism assets: “we have barely scrapped the surface of our potential,” he said.

Recognizing the potential of tourism in advancing developments goals, Mr. Ricardo Martínez Vázquez, Director General of Casa Africa, stressed the importance of the sector in the global cooperation agenda: “with one billion people expected to travel the world in 2012, we need to include tourism as a priority within Spanish foreign policy and cooperation actions,” he said.

INVESTOUR, now in its third year, aims to increase the visibility of Africa as a tourism destination and mobilize investment for sustainable tourism projects in the region. Over 25 African countries were represented at the Forum which included a series of presentations and debates followed by business-to-business meetings between Africa tourism companies and authorities and Spanish private sector representatives. Co-organized by UNWTO, Casa Africa and the international tourism trade fair FITUR, the 2012 edition featured the Economic Community of Central African States (CEMAC) and the East African Community (EAC) as specially invited regions.

International tourism in Africa grew from 27 million international tourist arrivals in 2000 to 50 million in 2011. International tourism receipts, a vital source of foreign exchange in the region, tripled in just one decade (from US$ 10 billion in 2000 to US$ 30 billion in 2010).

Useful links:

Tourism Investment Forum for Africa 2012

Contacts:

Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60

UNWTO Communications Programme

Tel: +34 91-567-8100

Fax: +34 91-567-8218

PR No.: PR 11092

“We are honored and humbled on being given this mandate as chair of the UNWTO Executive Council,” said Mr. Balala. “In collaboration and with the blessing of the Secretary-General, we intend to push a 3-tier agenda of travel facilitation through e-visas, unfair taxation affecting travel adversely (APD) and recognition of tourism as a national priority sector by all governments.”

“UNWTO is very pleased to see Kenya, as the new Chairman of our executive body, actively engaged in advancing the agenda set by the General Assembly in key issues such as travel facilitation,” said Mr. Rifai. “This subject was also highlighted at the last UNWTO/World Travel Market Ministers’ Summit in London as an effective means to stimulate travel demand, particularly at a moment where some economies face mounting economic difficulties, and will surely be one of high importance to all our members and the tourism community at large.”

Minister Balala met with UNWTO high officials during his visit to UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid to discuss in detail the work of the Executive Council for the coming year.  

Kenya was elected Chairman of the UNWTO Executive for 2012 during the 19^th session of the General Assembly held last October in the Republic of Korea.

Useful Links:

More information on UNWTO Executive Council 

Contacts:

Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60

UNWTO Communications Programme

Tel: +34 91-567-8100

Fax: +34 91-567-8218

UNWTO and the Regional Tourism Organisation for Southern Africa (RETOSA) jointly hosted a workshop (Johannesburg, South Africa, 8-9 September 2011) to provide high-quality training and a knowledge exchange opportunity to regional tourism and statistics officials within the framework of the UNWTO Statistical Capacity Building Programme (SCBP).

Officials from over ten countries in the region attended the workshop in which the significance of reliable data management for tourism development was repeatedly highlighted.  Harsh Varma, UNWTO Director of Technical Cooperation said, “in order for National Tourism Administrations and Organisations to operate effectively, it is essential that accurate data is at their disposal as tourism statistics constitute the critical basis for tourism planning, development and marketing strategies”.

Countries participating in the SCBP were provided the opportunity to exchange their experiences and outcomes of the programme thus far.  On a country-by-country basis, specific achievements were presented, such as the preparation of various experimental TSAs, and key challenges were discussed.

UNWTO launched the SCBP to review and improve national systems of tourism statistics and Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSAs) through technical support and assistance to its Member States. Since its launch,  UNWTO has joined forces with RETOSA to deliver technical assistance to thirteen Southern African countries.  The SCBP consists of an evaluation mission in which a detailed review and situation analysis of national systems of tourism statistics is undertaken and development opportunities are identified.  Individual country action plans are then produced and the programme’s progress is monitored.

In a move to further improve capacities in this area and strengthen their ongoing partnership, UNWTO and RETOSA committed to the organization of two ‘train-the-trainer’ workshops during the first quarter of 2012.

Relevant links:

UNWTO Technical Cooperation and Services

Statistics Capacity-Building Programme

RETOSA

Contacts:

Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
 

UNWTO Communications Programme

Tel: +34 91-567-8100

Fax: +34 91-567-8218

PR No.: PR11061

“Given its impact in terms of jobs and income and considering its multiplier effects in other areas of the economy, tourism has proven to be a sector of high relevance in the socio-economic development of our country,” said President Guebuza.

President Guebuza received an Open Letter from UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and World Travel &Tourism Council (WTTC) President & CEO, David Scowsill, highlighting Travel & Tourism as one of the most effective solutions to today’s global challenges.   

During his official visit to Mozambique, Mr. Rifai also met Prime Minister Aires Ali, who reiterated the Government’s commitment to tourism. "We are fully committed to the development of tourism in Mozambique, as the Government has recognized the sector as strategic for the overall development of the country," he said.

“Mozambique has unique resources to advance tourism and make of it a real driver to improve the lives of its people. Moreover, it has the political will to do so. This is confirmed by President Guebuza joining our campaign, but also by the fact that tourism is extensively featured in the Government Plan for the coming years,” said Mr. Rifai. “The Plan identifies tourism as a strategic sector in the socio-economic development of the country, contributing to job creation, income generation and the strengthening of national unity”. 

Mr. Scowsill said, “The tourism potential of Mozambique speaks for itself, with 2700 km of tropical coastline, a variety of ecological systems that are rich in species and a rich historic cultural heritage, but most significantly, the Mozambican Government has recognized the opportunities for economic growth and job creation through tourism”.

“The total contribution of Travel &Tourism to Mozambique’s GDP, including its wider economic impacts, is forecast to rise by 6.4% each year over the next ten years. By 2021 Travel & Tourism will support over 700,000 jobs in Mozambique,” Mr. Scowsill continued.

With over 2 million international tourist arrivals in 2010, Mozambique is becoming one of the most important destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa. International tourism revenues of US$ 1 billion represent 9% of Mozambique’s total exports. 

Note to Editors:

Through the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, UNWTO and WTTC are jointly presenting heads of state and government around the world an Open Letter which calls on them to acknowledge tourism’s key role in delivering more sustained and balanced growth and to prioritize the sector high in national policies in order to maximize its potential. The Open Letter outlines Travel & Tourism’s value as one of the world’s largest generators of jobs, a powerful driver of socio-economic growth and development and a key player in the transformation to the Green Economy.

The Campaign has already received the support of the Presidents of Mexico, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Burkina Faso, Indonesia, and Kenya.

Relevant links:

Open Letter to Heads of State and Government

Further Information on the Joint Campaign

Media contacts:

UNWTO Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
  www.UNWTO.org

WTTC Communications Executive: Anja Eckervogt
Tel: (+44) 20 7481 6484
 www.WTTC.org