WHAT? High-Level event “Boosting Africa’s Transformative Power of Tourism” - Harnessing Technology & Innovation, Youth & Women Entrepreneurship. This is a follow-up Event to the Africa Dialogue Series 2021, building towards TICAD 8 in Tunis, 2022

WHO?

From the Permanent Missions:

•        H.E. Mr. ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, Co-Organizer of TICAD

•        H.E. Mr. Tarek Ladeb, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the United Nations, Host of TICAD8, 2022

•        H.E. Ms. Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations

From the United Nations and the International Financial Institution:

•        Ms. Cristina Duarte, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa to the United Nations Secretary-General (UN-OSAA), Co-Organizer of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD)

•        Mr. Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Administrator of UNDP, Co-Organizer of TICAD

•        Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Africa, UNDP

•        Ms. Elcia Grandcourt, Director, UNWTO Regional Department for Africa

•        Ms. Martha Licetti, Practice Manager, Markets and Technology, the World Bank, Co-Organizer of TICAD

From the private sector:

•        Ms. Cherae Robinson, CEO, Tastemakers Africa

•        Ms. Rica Rwigamba, Head of Country, Mastercard Foundation in Rwanda

Moderator: Dr. Joy Kategekwa – Strategy Advisor – UNDP Africa

WHEN? Monday 21 June 2021, from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. New York

(4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Addis Ababa, 10.00 p.m. to 12.00 p.m. Tokyo)

WHERE? This is an online event. Registration link: bit.ly/BoostingAfricaTourism

Live broadcast on UN WebTV and UNDP Africa YouTube Channel

Africa is the land of diverse cultural and natural heritage with mesmerizing landscapes, unique wildlife, and remarkable historical sites. In 2019, the African continent had the world’s second fastest growing tourism industry. Nearly 70 million international tourists visited Africa and travel and tourism brought about $180 billion to the continent’s GDP.

However, the COVID-19 crisis had a devastating effect on all social and economic sectors, particularly travel and tourism. One billion less international tourists travelled globally in 2020 and Africa recorded a 75-percent fall in international tourists arrivals.

The situation remains dire as waves of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to rage through the African continent.

Reopening tourism is a critical part of the African COVID 19 recovery. Active travel and tourism policies will be critical in re-igniting and maximizing the gains from tourism across the continent. Ahead of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development in 2022, co-organisers, Japan, Tunisia, the African Union, the UN Development Programme, the UN Office for the Special Adviser on Africa and the World Bank, are bringing all actors together to help African tourism recover from the socioeconomic set back caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

The High-Level event on “Boosting Africa’s Transformative Power of Tourism” will discuss important changes needed in the travel and tourism industry and look at how communities relying on tourism can be supported in these difficult times. Speakers will also explore how to foster the role of tourism as a catalyst that spurs innovation and public-private partnerships towards inclusive, green and sustainable socio-economic growth across the continent.

Echoing this year’s theme of the Africa Dialogue Series on “Cultural Identity and Ownership: Reshaping mindsets” and the African Union Theme of the Year for 2021: “Year of the Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building an African We Want", the Permanent Missions of Japan and Tunisia together with the TICAD co-organizers present an opportunity to reimagine the potential of tourism to help societies recover from the pandemic and promote positive changes for all, including sustainable development and sustainable peace.

For more information and interview requests, please contact:

Eve Sabbagh, Strategic Communication Specialist, UNDP New York, eve.sabbagh@undp.org, +1-484-9045730