Africa records impressive Int’l arrivals in 2014

The African continent recorded 55.8 million International arrivals in 2014 and generated an income of US$ 36.4 billion.

African tourism Ministers were excited about the contribution of the tourism sector to the socio-economic development of their respective countries and that of the continent.

The Tourism Ministers from Africa made the observation in a meeting under the Chairmanship of United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Commission for Africa to discuss possible ways to brand the African continent.

The meeting, which took place on the side-lines of the just ended UNWTO regional conference, was on the theme: "Enhancing Brand Africa-Fostering Tourism Development," in Accra.

Mr Alain St. Ange, the Minister of Tourism of Seychelles said the tourism Ministers in the meeting with the AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy said it was necessary for the Chairperson of the AU to be briefed on the points raised at the conference.

"This Meeting of Tourism Ministers was good and I am particularly impressed by the unity we showed amongst ourselves for the purpose of defending the industry, that is unity in Africa,” he said.

He said the Ministers discussed the need for the African Union to embrace tourism as an industry that would propel the continent to the world.

The Tourism Minister said his colleagues also talked about the importance of the tourism sector on the African continent and has also noted the critical role it has played as a force to create employment.

He said the Ministers referred to their decision taken at a meeting in Croatia (during a meeting held within the framework of the Executive Council) for a meeting to be held in October 2015 in Addis Ababa.

He said the meeting was between African Tourism Ministers, under the Chairmanship of the Commission for Africa Chairman in the presence of the UNWTO and other organisations, to establish future plans for embedding Tourism in the 2063 Agenda of the AU.