African tourism investment summit announced

Thursday, 23 Jul, 2003 0

The Ugandan Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry has announced the First Annual Africa Tourism Investment Summit (FAATIS) to be held in April 2004.

Instigated by the World Bank Group and IMF Africa Club, FAATIS also has the support of The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), World Tourism Organisation (WTO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and Conservation International.

The primary aim of the summit is the “realisation and acceleration of the development of Tourism and Travel in Africa through changing the global negative perception of the continent and developing a forum with the aim of eliminating poverty and promoting sustainable tourism and infrastructure development”.

One of the Summit’s key objectives is to help to increase Africa’s share of world tourism. Africa currently attracts just 2% of the World’s $500 Billion Tourism spend. It is hoped the conference will help increase Africa’s share from its present level of $10 Billion to $50 Billion by 2020.

The World Tourism Organisation expects Africa is to have an average annual growth rate of 5% until 2020. Africa’s 32.6 million visitors in 2001 is expected to grow to 53 million by 2010 and to 85 million by 2020.

For further information, contact Colin Swain. Tel: +44 20 7089 4194, Fax: +44 20 7089 4201, email: <a href="mailto:[email protected]
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