The Tourism Africa 2006 conference has kicked off in Geneva, Swirterland with a lot of support from the continent’s travel industry, ministers and tourism bodies.

The global meeting takes places between September 10 and 15 and is organised jointly by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

The event brings together African and international decision-makers and will foster targeted encounters and strategic decision making with a view to developing markets and co-operation.

The conference aims at highlighting the socio -economic importance of International Tourism Development as an avenue for alleviation of poverty in Least Development Countries (LDC’s).

The conference will discuss the Global Outlook in Tourism Investment in Africa and African Promotion Agencies (IPA’s) on how to attract foreign direct investments in the tourism sector, according to the Ministry.

“One of the most significant elements of Tourism Africa is the way that so many UN agencies have spontaneously agreed to support the initiative and to participate in the program,” said Geoffrey Lipman, special advisor to the UNWTO.

“As the central and decisive UN focal point for the sector, UNWTO is strongly committed to support this event and to help it contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.”

“The MDG’s give us a natural ten year strategic perspective for the exhibition as well as an annual check on performance.”

“As chair of the Tourism Africa Advisory Committee we are delighted to see already, in this first year, the high level of interest and participation of African Ministers of Tourism, as well as senior professionals from the industry, development agencies and the media.”

“It is an exciting start and we are indebted to SBM and Palexpo for their vision and innovation in conceptualizing and pulling the event together.”
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