African Tourism Board Collaborates with African Union to Boost African Urban Tourism

Addis Ababa, November 22, 2023 - The African Tourism Board (ATB) representatives, Executive Chairman Dr. Cuthbert Simphiwe Ncube, and Secretary General Mrs. Hiwotie Anberbir Assefa, proudly participated in a continental consultative workshop on "boosting African urban tourism," organized by the African Union (AU) and held on November 21–22, 2023, at the African Union Commission (AUC) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The workshop aimed to highlight the rapidly urbanizing landscape and the growing middle class in Africa, while emphasizing the strategic planning required to harness urban tourism as a low-hanging fruit. This approach has enormous potential to drive and fulfill the tourism policies' goal of diversifying the range of tourism products offered.

The purpose of the planned workshop was to achieve the following:

- Improve awareness among stakeholders with respect to Urban Tourism;
- Set up a platform to coordinate and facilitate the synchronization between major existing stakeholders relevant to urban tourism by giving recognition.
- Identify challenges and opportunities in exploiting the potential of Africa’s urban tourism;
- Identifying ways of engaging the private sector to drive the urban tourism agenda for Africa;
- Explore the best practices that promote women and youth participation in Africa’s urban tourism, including affirmative action.
- Reflect on the potential for the development of African urban tourism via the joint management of spaces and resources.
- Advocate for AU Tourism agenda

The workshop's expected outcome was to foster a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities for African urban tourism. Concrete proposals were generated to enrich the scheduled Continental study titled "Leveraging African Urban Tourism: Packaging and Promotion among the African Domestic and Regional Markets.“

Distinguished participants included the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the NEPAD Agency, and the African Tourism Board. This collaborative effort brought together key stakeholders to discuss and strategize ways to optimize the immense potential of urban tourism in Africa.

The African Tourism Board, as a proud partner with the African Union and known for its commitment to promoting tourism across the continent, played an instrumental role in providing insights and expertise during the workshop. By joining forces with the AU, the ATB demonstrated its dedication to enhancing the tourism landscape and driving sustainable growth in Africa.

Through this collaborative effort, the ATB aims to contribute to the development of concrete proposals that will shape the future of African urban tourism. These proposals will not only address the challenges faced but also focus on leveraging opportunities to attract both domestic and regional markets, bolstering the continent's tourism industry.

The ATB remains committed to fostering partnerships and initiatives that will drive positive change in African tourism. By actively participating in events such as the continental consultative workshop, the ATB continues to champion the diversification and promotion of tourism products across the African continent.

Catégorie:

Arts & Culture 

Organisation:

African Tourism Board