UNWTO Regional Conference resolves to sell Africa on global stage
Stakeholders at the end of a three-day conference on enhancing brand Africa have resolved to develop tourism on the African continent to better position it on the global stage.
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They have also resolved to brand Africa by exploring innovative ways and initiatives that would better sell the continent to the rest of the world.
The resolution was passed at the closing ceremony of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Regional Conference in Accra.
The conference was on the theme: "Enhancing Brand Africa, Fostering Tourism Development", and was attended by stakeholders in the tourism industry, including tourism ministers, tourism associations, journalists and the private sector, with the aim of, among other things, creating synergies among African countries towards greater cooperation in the promotion and positioning of an African tourism brand.
Resolution
In a five-point resolution read by the Director-General of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), Dr Taleb Rifai, the stakeholders said they would share the various steps that had been taken at the conference with all African leaders to chart a new course towards developing the tourism industry on the continent.
To that end, Dr Rifai said a special meeting would be reconvened soon to bring all African leaders together to put on the table their respective commitment steps they had put in place towards developing the tourism sector.
He also said the stakeholders had also decided to brand Africa in a positive manner to paint a good image of itself on the globe.
Dr Rifai further called on the media to do its best to project a positive image of the continent, adding, “We must learn to sell African stories the African way to the world.”
Africa must work together
In an interview after the session, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts of the Seychelles, Mr Alain St Ange, said, “We’ll immediately prepare a document that will ensure that all leaders come together as one people.”
“Africa must learn to work together as one people. We must believe in ourselves and work together as one people. There must be connectivity among Africans,” he added.
For her part, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said Ghana was prepared to work with other countries on the continent to develop the sector for the good of the economy to create wealth and jobs.