Thursday, October 3, 2024 Tourism authorities from Africa and the Americas have united to advance the tourism sector as a crucial element of sustainable and inclusive growth for both continents. At the inaugural joint session of the UN Tourism’s Regional Commissions for Africa and the Americas, held in Punta Cana, the participants ratified the “Punta Cana Declaration.” This event, characterized by its collaborative spirit, spanned two days filled with discussions centered on education and investment in tourism.
Acknowledging the historical connections and the distinct yet complementary cultures of the regions, the Summit marked a significant step in fostering cooperation, focusing on innovation, education, investment, and the creative industries to propel tourism development. Welcoming around 200 high-level participants among them 14 Ministers, representing 27 countries (15 from the Americas and 12 from Africa), UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “This summit offers a unique platform to forge connections and build bridges between Africa and the Americas, create strategic cross-regional partnerships, foster South-South cooperation projects, all for the benefit of the tourism sector of the two regions.” The event saw key figures such as David Collado, Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism and Chair of the Regional Commission for the Americas, and Auxillia Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe’s First Lady and Patron for Tourism, welcoming delegates and endor.
