TourismAfrica2006 which will be held in Geneva in September (10-15), is supported by leading international and Pan-African institutions such as the African Union, the World Tourism Organisation, UNCTAD, UNESCO, the World Bank and the African Development Bank. This international event aims at fostering the development of Africa’s tourism industry and at promoting destinations in African countries.

This first initiative solely for Africa will gather within a congress, an exhibition and a Business Development Centre, qualified African and International decision-makers from the public and private sector. Actors involved in the development of hospitality, transport, tour-operating, investment, tourist promotion, tourist engineering, construction, media, culture and leisure in Africa will be present at TourismAfrica2006.

The Congress, under the patronage of the WTTC and chaired by Mr Jean-Claude Baumgarten, will open TourismAfrica2006 on September 10 and 11, 2006. One of its panels will address “Air Transport in Africa”. Chaired by Mr Thomas Windmuller, IATA Senior Vice President (International Air Transport Association), it will cover three main topics:

—Aviation’s importance to Africa’s Tourism Industry development

—African aviation’s attractiveness to African and international airlines

—Working together to overcome air transport challenges in Africa

The following air transport figures and executives will identify key components that will stimulate growth in Africa’s aviation industry:

—Folly Kossi, General Secretary, African Airlines Association (AFRAA)

—Robert J. Aaronson, Director General, Airports Council International (ACI)

—Girma Wake, CEO, Ethiopian Airways

—Mohamed Ghelala, Managing Director, Air Burkina
——-