The African Development Bank has reiterated its support to Africa’s tourism sector, one of the continent’s fastest growing areas.
Speaking at the recent 66th Tourism Conference organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Mauritius, Leila Mokaddem, Director General for the Southern Africa Regional Integration and Business Delivery Hub, said the Bank would prioritise support for member countries to develop its tourism industry and other pathways to sustainable, climate-smart local economic development.
The conference, hosted by the Mauritius Government, was held under the theme ‘Rethinking Tourism for Africa: Promoting Investment and Partnerships; Addressing Global Challenges’.
“Tourism is one of the fastest growing and most interconnected sectors in the global economy, with vast potential to boost GDP and investment, and spur regional integration. Mauritius is a success story in that regard,” Mokaddem said.
The conference brought together African tourism ministers and key tourism stakeholders from the sector to discuss tourism development in Africa.
The annual gathering offers a platform where both public and private-sector industry partners come together to exchange ideas. The conference explored innovative ways to promote investment, partnerships, and sustainable growth in the African tourism sector.
Tourism sector is a priority
The bank has identified the tourism sector as a priority sector in its strategy to accelerate Africa’s industrialisation and green growth.
In this regard, it is working closely with the UNWTO, the specialised agency in charge of promoting tourism with a network from its membership of 158 countries.
The Bank and UNWTO have agreed to strengthen their co-operation and to establish a working arrangement through a Memorandum of Understanding, guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, African Union Agenda 2063, and Rio+20 development goals and objectives.
This aligns with the bank’s 2013-2022 Strategy and its High 5 priorities to industrialise Africa and to improve the quality of life of Africans, by creating enabling conditions for decent jobs for youth.
Both parties agree that joint efforts will boost the tourism sector and help fill the gaps in the areas of advocacy, policy and analytical advice.
Discussions to finalise the signing of the MoU are ongoing.
