Seychelles to host major tourism and aviation meeting
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) have launched invitations for tourism and air transport ministers of Africa to gather in Seychelles for the first ever UNWTO & ICAO joint meeting of its kind.
The invitation that is jointly signed by Taleb Rifai, the secretary general of the UNWTO; Alain St Ange, the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture and Raymond Benjamin, the secretary general of the ICAO, reads:
"On behalf of the UNWTO, the ICAO and the government of Seychelles, we have the honour to request your participation in the First UNWTO / ICAO Ministerial Conference on Tourism and Air Transport in Africa. The event will be held in Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles, October 14-15, 2014, with a preparatory meeting for the experts to be held on
October 13, 2014.
The tourism sector in Africa has reached an above average growth rate. However, its full potential still remains untapped. In recognition of tourism's high dependency on air transportation and in light of the critical importance of both tourism and air transportation in the context of economic growth and sustainable development, the conference will focus on Tourism and Air Transport in Africa, with the aim of exploring how to maximise existing resources.
The main objective of the ministerial conference is to highlight and analyse the critical linkages between a robust and revenue-generating African tourism sector, combined with safe, efficient and profitable air transport operations, and forward-looking economic policies that optimise both immediate revenue potential and sustainable socio-economic prosperity for Africa.
As outlined in the enclosed provisional programme, the expert panel discussions will generate ideas and high-level inputs which will then be shared with the ministerial participants for consideration. We firmly believe that this joint UNTWO / ICAO ministerial event represents an important milestone for the two sectors and builds on the Luanda Declaration on Tourism and Air Transport Connectivity, approved earlier this year on the occasion of the 56th meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Africa.
We sincerely hope that you will be able to participate in this unique setting and occasion and we are confident that the knowledge and expertise that will be shared, not to mention the distinctive perspectives of participating African States, will contribute significantly to the delivery of pragmatic, forward-looking proposals that will allow international governments to obtain their fair share out of the future growth of global tourism, ensuring a prosperous and sustainable tomorrow for Africa.”
Minister St Ange told the press that he was thrilled that this historic meeting was taking place in Seychelles.
“Tourism remains the pillar of Seychelles’ economy. Because we are a mid-ocean tropical island nation, we are dependent on air access for our tourism industry. The conference on tourism and air transport by the UNWTO and the ICAO is covering the two key components of life in Seychelles and the economy of Seychelles and delegates to the conference by being in Seychelles will be able to better appreciate the importance of the topic," said Minister St Ange.
Forrás: www.nation.sc
The invitation that is jointly signed by Taleb Rifai, the secretary general of the UNWTO; Alain St Ange, the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture and Raymond Benjamin, the secretary general of the ICAO, reads:
"On behalf of the UNWTO, the ICAO and the government of Seychelles, we have the honour to request your participation in the First UNWTO / ICAO Ministerial Conference on Tourism and Air Transport in Africa. The event will be held in Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles, October 14-15, 2014, with a preparatory meeting for the experts to be held on
October 13, 2014.
The tourism sector in Africa has reached an above average growth rate. However, its full potential still remains untapped. In recognition of tourism's high dependency on air transportation and in light of the critical importance of both tourism and air transportation in the context of economic growth and sustainable development, the conference will focus on Tourism and Air Transport in Africa, with the aim of exploring how to maximise existing resources.
The main objective of the ministerial conference is to highlight and analyse the critical linkages between a robust and revenue-generating African tourism sector, combined with safe, efficient and profitable air transport operations, and forward-looking economic policies that optimise both immediate revenue potential and sustainable socio-economic prosperity for Africa.
As outlined in the enclosed provisional programme, the expert panel discussions will generate ideas and high-level inputs which will then be shared with the ministerial participants for consideration. We firmly believe that this joint UNTWO / ICAO ministerial event represents an important milestone for the two sectors and builds on the Luanda Declaration on Tourism and Air Transport Connectivity, approved earlier this year on the occasion of the 56th meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Africa.
We sincerely hope that you will be able to participate in this unique setting and occasion and we are confident that the knowledge and expertise that will be shared, not to mention the distinctive perspectives of participating African States, will contribute significantly to the delivery of pragmatic, forward-looking proposals that will allow international governments to obtain their fair share out of the future growth of global tourism, ensuring a prosperous and sustainable tomorrow for Africa.”
Minister St Ange told the press that he was thrilled that this historic meeting was taking place in Seychelles.
“Tourism remains the pillar of Seychelles’ economy. Because we are a mid-ocean tropical island nation, we are dependent on air access for our tourism industry. The conference on tourism and air transport by the UNWTO and the ICAO is covering the two key components of life in Seychelles and the economy of Seychelles and delegates to the conference by being in Seychelles will be able to better appreciate the importance of the topic," said Minister St Ange.
Forrás: www.nation.sc