Stakeholders clamour for African tourism rebirth

Stakeholders in the tourism industry have called for a rebirth of the African tourism sector, saying it is high time to make big impact on the global economy by building strategic partnerships, stimulating sustainable investments, and promoting African tourism and economy without borders.

The call was made at the official launch of the Africa International Tourism and Economic Council (AITEC-World), which was held at the Abuja Continental Hotel (former Sheraton Hotels) over the weekend and attended by industry experts from across the continent.

Speaking at the event, a former Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture from the Republic of Ghana, Honourable Catherine Afeku, urged the leadership of AITEC to broaden their scope by opening membership to international organisations as a way of driving investments into the tourism sector for the continent.

ALSO READ: Nigeria not giving mental health attention it deserves — NHIA Chairman

Honourable Afeku said tourism in Africa would further be enhanced through data gathering, use of technology, and unrestricted visa protocol that will dismantle the borders and promote economic activities that will generate a lot of money for the tourism industry.

She said, “Tourism has the potential to change the African economy for the better. There is no database for Africans to know about Africa. So, first, we need data gathering so that, at the click of a button, we can access tourism sites across all the countries on the continent. We need data to promote our tourism potential. It’s an opportunity for AITEC to talk about gathering data, but done in a robust way that, at the click of a button, people will know where to go on the continent.

“The way forward is for AITEC to broaden its scope, invite more people to join this Council. They must also think in terms of global partnerships and not only with African associations but also with international associations to drive investments into the tourism sector for the continent. As an industry, tourism should marry technology so that it will make it seamless for the ecosystem of tourism. If you are here in Abuja and you would like to visit Zambia, you don’t have to leave your home or the comfort of your office to go to a travel agent.

“Visa protocol is also key. Set up advocacy committee to visit heads of governments. There is so much that AITEC as a new organisation can do. Liaising with the AU, liaising with ECOWAS, liaising with AfCFTA, all these international agencies on the continent. They have protocols that have been approved. It needs to be ratified by member countries.”

The President, AITEC, Ambassador Dine Bouraima, in his remarks, said the organisation will collaborate with African states to set up a revolutionary system for the collection and analysis of statistical data on African tourism that will allow for the acquisition of comparable and up-to-date data between African countries, real-time monitoring of market trends and guidance for public policies and private investments based on solid factual data.

“What we have launched is not just an institutional initiative. It is a concrete mechanism, designed to deliver measurable results. In ten years, if we succeed, the indicators will speak for themselves: more visitors, more investments, more jobs and an Africa better integrated into global economic exchanges. Africa wins when it opens to the world. The world wins when it opens to Africa,” Bouraima said.