The World Travel & Tourism Council has welcomed Botswana Tourism Organisation as its newest member as it becomes the first destination partner from Africa.

BTO joins peers from tourism authorities across North America, the Middle East and Europe to become the organisation’s sixth partner since launching the membership category in April at the Global Summit in Buenos Aires.

Gloria Guevara, president, WTTC, said: “I am delighted to welcome Botswana Tourism Organisation as WTTC’s first African destination partner.

“Tourism is a vital part of Botswana’s economy contributing 11.5 per cent of the nation’s economy last year and sustaining 76,000 jobs.”

She added: “The inclusion of Botswana Tourism Organisation as a destination partner helps to broaden WTTC’s representation of the global tourism sector, allowing us to more effectively advocate for tourism actors and key issues worldwide.”

WTTC represents the global tourism private sector and its newest membership category, destination partner, amplifies the voice of major national tourism organisations and destination management organisations from across the globe.

Zibanani Hubona, acting chief executive, BTO, said: “We are delighted to have joined this world leading tourism body.

“Our membership will enable us to add a voice to the global call for sustainable tourism development, and for global community beneficiation to be top of the tourism development agenda.”