Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, has called on the global community and international media to share positive stories about Africa, as evident in its warm and friendly people, culture and environment.
“A strong tourism sector in Africa can have a transformative effect in the region as a powerful tool for development; and a strong tourism sector in Africa depends on a strong image of the region. In this context, I would like to encourage the global community, international media and all tourism stakeholders to be part of this new vision for Brand Africa, by sharing the positive stories and experiences of this wonderful and breathtaking continent,” he said.
Mr. Rifai, was speaking at the on-going UNWTO regional conference, which is themed ‘Enhancing brand Africa, fostering tourism development’ and is a platform for tourism ministers, marketing practitioners and brand experts across the continent to set a common action plan for advancing Africa’s image and brand as a tourism destination.
The conference aims to achieve a balance between insights from destination managers and commercial practitioners in ensuring that both market reality and policy imperatives are considered, as these are issues that destinations need to align on an on-going basis.
The Mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, said the Metropolitan Authority is working assiduously to make the capital city conducive for its residents and visiting tourists.
He said the assembly is working to eradicate various seasonal epidemics, and clear various slums in the city. “What we know as Sodom and Gomorrah is no more. We have created a red-line in various markets and traders are aware. This is to keep traders off the pavements.
”In 2014 Africa received 56 million international tourists: International tourism receipts in Africa amount to US$36billion or 7 percent of all exports on the continent.
There has been a steady growth in tourist arrivals into Ghana, bar last year when the Ebola epidemic led to a significant reduction in tourist numbers.
The National Tourism Development Plan 2013-2027 conservatively projects tourism receipts of US$1.5billion in 2017; 2.5billion in 2022; and 4.3billion in 2027. The actualization of this goal will however depend on the policy commitment of government.