7 February 2005

IIPT Zambia

This is the year of Africa

World Governments and their Institutions focused on

• Slashed Debt at the G7
• Boosted Aid at the G8
• Creative Partnerships at the Africa Commission
• Asymmetrical Trade at the Doha Multilateral
• Reduced Poverty at the UN MDG Review

NEPAD and the African Union committed to

• Security and Peace
• Nourishment and Health
• Governance and Solidarity

Leaders who recognize the potential of Tourism in this equation

•  President Mwanawasa in Zambia profiling it in his PRSP

•  President Obasanju in Nigeria chairing Tourism Strategy Sessions & hosting a Commonwealth Tourism Ministerial.

•  Prime Minister Meles in Ethiopia launching a Tourism Paradigm plan for his Millennium Development Goals

Leaders who understand that Tourism is made for this new African opportunity to:

• Fight Poverty
• Create Jobs
• Boost Growth
• Earn Foreign Exchange
• Attract Investment

With untapped wealth of nature, culture, heritage & human resource every African state has the potential to be a succesful tourism exporter. You have discovered the jewel - the challenge now is to polish it with quality, infrastructure, communications & service. And promote it – increasingly electronically - to a market hungry for precisely the kind of experience that only Africa can offer.

The World Tourism Organization the new lead UN Agency for the sector, is committed to support this transformation though tourism, with:

•  A dedicated Africa programme integrated formally into NEPAD and AU actions

•  A “Liberalization with a Human Face” Strategy for proactive development support on poverty, trade and sustainability. And specific measures to lower airfares and enhance security together with facilitation.

•  A ST -EP initiative to boost funding and community based projects across the continent.

WTO demonstrated last week, with its Phuket Tsunami Action Plan, the ability to meet immediate regional crises with a global dimension - without taking its eye away from the fundamental strategic challenges of Africa .

WTO salutes IIPT for its continuing commitment to the growth of African Tourism and wishes you a successful Conference here in a country that epitomizes both the opportunity and the commitment. And whose Tourism Minister is a champion of the cause.

Finally, can I also as the new President of the International Council of Tourism Partners - with Lou d' Amour on our Advisory Board - draw your attention to the debilitating impact of Aids on this continent and its development aspirations. And ask you to work with us to get the Tourism Sector squarely behind the global response to this killer disease, which has targetted this continent, more than any other.

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