The 54 member states of the Commonwealth – from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific – should collaborate to help stimulate post-COVID economic recovery in the tourism sector.

“We should draw on each other’s strengths, share knowledge, skills and opportunities,” said Mobin Rafiq, Founder and President of the Commonwealth Entrepreneur Club, noting that this included leveraging technological advancements to work together.

Rafiq was one of six panellists addressing delegates attending the discussion about ‘How investment in travel and tourism sector can drive growth and cooperation within the Commonwealth countries’ at the ITIC Investment Summit, which ran alongside WTM London Virtual yesterday (November 10).

Member of the British Parliament and Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK, Ian Liddell-Grainger, agreed, highlighting that member countries should aspire to create a Commonwealth Tourism Body that drove tourism investment and growth and encouraged active collaboration and engagement.

“We are a collective family offering diverse tourism brands and we can learn so much from each other on how to grow trade and tourism,” he said.

Memunatu B. Pratt, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Sierra Leone, agreed, pointing out how both her country and South Africa had learnt from each other to build on their cultural and environmental diversity and better meet increased domestic travel needs as international borders were closed during the pandemic.

“That’s why we as Commonwealth members should look at similar policies around growth and investment in tourism,” added Minister of Tourism South Africa, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane.

She reiterated a statement by Liddell-Grainger that member countries should be further encouraged to visit each other and learn more about the investment and collaboration opportunities that existed.

“For example, South Africa is so much more than exclusive luxury safaris and Cape Town. It is a rich, diverse country that is alive with opportunities,” said Kubayi-Ngubane.

President of Entrepreneurship, Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club, Lord Rami Ranger, said the respective country missions should be brought in to work with the governments in the countries where they were stationed to highlight opportunities.

“These also include the industries that supply goods and services to the tourism value chain,” he added, pointing to linens, food and cosmetics as examples.

“We need to work on building skills in these industries too,” said Ranger.