UNWTO: Tourism leaders place African focus on global challenges

The Conference on Rethinking Africa: Rethinking Tourism for Africa: Addressing global challenges; Promoting investment and partnerships brought expert African perspectives to global challenges, highlighting the need for investments towards a greener tourism sector and access to finance within the sector and the need to further strengthen public-private collaboration at every level.
Tourism Ministers set out visions
Reflecting the heightened relevance of tourism as a solution to a range of global challenges and a pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Conference was structured around two thematic sessions with a ministerial panel on Addressing global challenges followed by a second one focusing on "Promoting Investment and Partnerships in Tourism for Economic Development. His Excellency Steven Obeegadoo, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing, and Land Use Planning and Minister of Tourism for the Republic of Mauritius, and Vice-Chair of the UNWTO Executive Council joined Albert Muchanga, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, African Union who delivered the keynote address.
A special Ministerial Panel Session focusing on global challenges featured contributions from the Ministers of Tourism of DR Congo Didier Mazenga Mukanzu, Minister of Tourism of Ghana Hon. Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Kenya Peninah Malonza, and Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage of Zambia Rhodney Sikumba, as well as Ms Lisa Singh, the UN Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles and Prof Nazia M Habib, Head, Centre for Resilience and Sustainable Development at the University of Cambridge.
Advancing investments and partnerships
In line with UNWTO's priorities for the sector, the second session put the focus on the importance of building strategic relations and partnerships as well as the vital need for more and better-targeted investments in tourism, building tourism intelligence, particularly in projects with the potential to deliver greater sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity. UNWTO Executive Director Natalia Bayona opened the session with an overview of the tourism investment climate followed by presentations by Mr. Kevin Ramkaloan CEO of Business Mauritius and messages from Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, Secretary General of The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Leila Farah Mokaddenm, Director General, Southern Africa Region, African Development Bank.
Botswana's Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Conservation, and Tourism Philda Kereng, and Hon. Siandou Fofana, Minister of Tourism, Republic of Côte d´Ivoire, also contributed their unique, expert insights into rethinking tourism investments and partnerships. They were joined by Ms. Amanda Serumaga – Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme for Mauritius and Seychelles, Ms. Michaella Rugwizangoga, Chief Tourism Officer, Rwanda Development Board, and Mr. Mamadu Serifo Jaquite, Mamadu Serifo Jaquite, Commissioner in charge of the Department of Human Development of the West African Monetary and Economic Union
The Mauritius Declaration
The conference culminated with the presentation of the Mauritius Declaration by the host country and UNWTO. The program of actions proposed in the Mauritius Declaration aims to promote sustainable and resilient tourism ecosystems through multi-sectoral partnerships, ethical practices, investment promotion, nature-based solutions, decarbonization, coordination of public health, policy alignment, and data-driven decision-making. This program includes a range of measures, including:
Encourage partnership and tourism ethics;
The promotion of investment, innovation, and accessibility to financing;
Public health coordination and crisis management;
The integration of internal and regional tourism;
The encouragement of responsible and solidarity tourism;
The implementation of blue tourism;
Partnerships between public, private, and community actors and models of governance; And
Pan-African Fund for Sustainable Tourism;
To enable this program to be carried out under the best possible conditions, the Declaration also calls for the support, in accordance with their respective mandates, of the Member States of the UNWTO, the African Union Commission, the regional economic communities organizations, regional aviation institutions, banking institutions, the African Development Bank, international aid partners, donor communities and financial institutions.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Supmena
13/07 16:30
13/07 13:33
New round of tariffs by Trump: 30% on EU and Mexico – Fears of a trade war
12/07 09:20
12/07 08:23
Airbnb: More Flexible Cancellations Starting in October – Host Reactions
11/07 16:18
Ryanair vs. “Ursula von Derlayed-Again”: Last chance to act against air traffic controller strikes
11/07 16:04
11/07 13:13
The Ioannina – Heraklion air connection is in the air | What the Civil Aviation Authority says
11/07 12:28
11/07 12:23
Americans Continue to Travel Despite Uncertainty – New MMGY Survey Finds
11/07 11:33
New era for state airports: Holistic upgrade strategy by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority
11/07 11:30
11/07 10:00
SOS from Crete's institutions: The impact of migration flows on tourism is now visible
11/07 08:40
Ioannina in the sights of Bollywood – Channels of cooperation with India are opening up
11/07 07:56
“Green light” for Golf Afantou – Mitsis Group’s €400 million investment begins
11/07 07:54
Radisson Expands Presence in Middle East, Cyprus, and Greece
11/07 07:43
Mylos Hotel | New hotel in Corsica’s most authentic Greek village
11/07 07:16
My expensive Greece... | + 12% package prices for the British - Competitors are cheaper
11/07 07:13
The South Aegean is the most saturated tourist destination in Europe
11/07 07:08
International Pelion Festival: Music, nature, and culture in perfect harmony
11/07 07:04
Municipality of Distomo – Arachova – Antikyra | Cooperation with the city of Trani, Italy
11/07 06:24
Hotel coming soon | Competition for EFKA listed building at 6 Voulis Street
10/07 22:25
Nao: The most modern longevity destination in Greece at Minos Palace Resort
10/07 22:21
10/07 19:59
POX to T. Theodorikakos: The absence of tourism from the new Development Law is a strategic choice
10/07 12:27
10/07 12:11
10/07 12:00
10/07 11:55
Popi Xynopoulou, new President of the Association of Tourist Offices of Macedonia and Thrace
10/07 11:17
Isrotel: The €100 mil. investment plan and the expansion of Aluma Hotels & Resorts in Greece
10/07 11:11
Tribute to Santorini from the French magazine Désirs de Voyages
10/07 11:04
Angela Gerekou | Greece at the crossroads of sustainability and innovation
10/07 08:25
Telegraph: Which are the two hotels that "bring" the Maldives to Greece
10/07 07:45
Mediterranean | Heatwave Champions: Corfu Hottest in Greece, Rhodes Coolest
10/07 07:42
Piraeus-China: Bridges of culture and tourism from Qingdao to Beijing
10/07 07:38
Municipality of Hersonissos | "Pay as you fly" begins with the participation of 28 hotels
10/07 07:33
Michalopoulos’ mega project in Ios moves forward amid protests
10/07 07:07
ITEP Research: The fullness and prices determine the performance of Greek hotels
10/07 06:53
Creation of an olive park with centuries-old olive trees in Rhodes
10/07 06:50
jet2 | Hostels and cheap accommodation to attract young tourists
10/07 06:15
Ierapetra: "We were spared the worst..." - G. Tzarakis on TN | Bookings down 30%
10/07 06:11
Azerbaijan is coming... Greece! Strategic partnership between Danaos and Pasha Travel
09/07 23:35
The specificities of travel agencies in the spotlight for the Digital Vehicle Customer Register
09/07 18:32
SKY Express welcomes the 11th Airbus A320neo, strengthening the youngest aircraft fleet in Greece
09/07 13:43
Chania: Access for all to the sea | New Sea Trac in Nea Chora - Accessible beaches
09/07 13:27
Greece | Still high in 2025 among Europeans’ travel preferences
09/07 12:52
Shocking data: 1 in 3 women in aviation have been sexually assaulted at work
09/07 12:52
Shocking data: 1 in 3 women in aviation have been sexually assaulted at work
09/07 12:48
09/07 12:46
09/07 12:12
09/07 12:08
09/07 12:08
09/07 11:59
GNTO and Netflix collaborate on a new video for Greek tourism
09/07 11:23
The historic center of Chania is transformed into “Chania Open Mall”
09/07 11:20
Gr. Tasios on the Development Law | “Tourism needs fair support”
09/07 11:15
09/07 10:31
09/07 10:28
Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise arrives in Crete – Anti-mining message
09/07 10:26
09/07 08:33
09/07 07:58
Dance performance at the Floka Theater for the 100th anniversary of Hadjidakis and Theodorakis
09/07 07:45
09/07 07:38
10 European tourism organisations renew their sustainability commitments
09/07 07:38
10 European tourism organisations renew their sustainability commitments
09/07 07:35
ERGANI: Tourism is the first sector in recorded history in May
09/07 07:15
09/07 06:49
Fighting for a drop: What Sami and Kassandra are doing to address water shortages
09/07 06:49
Fighting for a drop: What Sami and Kassandra are doing to address water shortages
08/07 19:35
08/07 18:47
UNESCO | Postponement for the Inscription of the Minoan Palaces on the World Heritage List
08/07 17:43
08/07 17:39
Targeting the Turkish market: Press and fam trips from the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization
08/07 17:23
Waterways | Ministry of Shipping: Positive opinion for 29 – The process for another 5 is underway
08/07 14:51
08/07 13:54
08/07 13:45
Free transportation for visitors to the beach of Schinias - Marathon National Park
08/07 12:31
Shocking fine in Spain for British tourists without health insurance
08/07 12:26
Gastronomic Tourism in Crete: Elounda Collection at the Center of International Attention
08/07 11:59
Thomas Cook Bankruptcy in Germany: Sentido Hotels Creditors Fully Compensated
08/07 11:47
Germans on holiday: Who they travel with, what spoils them, what they would do in a... shipwreck
08/07 11:18
KEDE: Proposal for a financial program to upgrade the thermal springs
08/07 11:15
08/07 11:15
08/07 11:04
08/07 11:02
Michael O’Leary: Ryanair vs von der Leyen | “Protect flights over France or resign”
08/07 10:21
08/07 10:21
08/07 09:04
Marriott: Asia-Pacific Luxury Travelers More Demanding Than Ever
08/07 08:32
Advertising promotion of the Cyclades, Mykonos and Santorini to TUI Netherlands customers
08/07 08:29
Austrians are excellent tourists: They travel and spend a lot...
08/07 07:57
Saladi Project: New €266 million tourism and housing investment in Ermionida
08/07 07:57
Saladi Project: New €266 million tourism and housing investment in Ermionida
08/07 07:57
Saladi Project: New €266 million tourism and housing investment in Ermionida
08/07 07:49
WTTC | Scary losses if tourism is limited in 11 cities in Europe
08/07 07:36
"Save Papoura Hill": The emblematic monument of Crete is in danger from the airport in Kastelli
08/07 07:36
"Save Papoura Hill": The emblematic monument of Crete is in danger from the airport in Kastelli
08/07 06:42
08/07 06:39
Spain's tourism arsenal grows with Netflix's €1 billion investment
08/07 06:39
Spain's tourism arsenal grows with Netflix's €1 billion investment
07/07 18:55
Labor Inspectorate: New tool for detecting violations in the use of the digital labor card
Ryanair vs. “Ursula von Derlayed-Again”: Last chance to act against air traffic controller strikes
SOS from Crete's institutions: The impact of migration flows on tourism is now visible
“Green light” for Golf Afantou – Mitsis Group’s €400 million investment begins
New era for state airports: Holistic upgrade strategy by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority
Ioannina in the sights of Bollywood – Channels of cooperation with India are opening up
The Ioannina – Heraklion air connection is in the air | What the Civil Aviation Authority says
Americans Continue to Travel Despite Uncertainty – New MMGY Survey Finds
Stores in Greece open on Sunday 11:00-18:00, depending on owners' decision
Is American tourism in Europe “slowing down”? What do professionals see for 2025 and 2026
Radisson Expands Presence in Middle East, Cyprus, and Greece
The South Aegean is the most saturated tourist destination in Europe
International Pelion Festival: Music, nature, and culture in perfect harmony
My expensive Greece... | + 12% package prices for the British - Competitors are cheaper
Nao: The most modern longevity destination in Greece at Minos Palace Resort
Hotel coming soon | Competition for EFKA listed building at 6 Voulis Street
POX to T. Theodorikakos: The absence of tourism from the new Development Law is a strategic choice
Municipality of Distomo – Arachova – Antikyra | Cooperation with the city of Trani, Italy
Mylos Hotel | New hotel in Corsica’s most authentic Greek village
Impressive statue of Hercules unearthed in Philippi of Northern Greece