The 1st world forum of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on tourism investment in Africa closed its doors this Friday, February 21 in Abidjan, with the key to the resolution to create a Pan-African Tourism Fund.
This Community Fund for Investment and Tourism and Hotel Development consists of having an investment mechanism supported by African States.
“It will be exclusively dedicated to the tourism sector in Africa and to independent and innovative regional players. And would constitute a profitable entity for its Member States and bearer of a sustainable and responsible growth of the sector” explains Siandou Fofana, Ivorian Minister of Tourism and Leisure.
The proposal for the creation of this fund will be submitted to the authorities of the Africa Commission of the World Tourism Organization for in-depth analysis and adoption, during its next session, in the Seychelles Islands from March 25 to 27, 2020.
The 1st world forum of the World Tourism Organization on tourism investment in Africa aimed to promote investments for the development and enhancement of tourism on the continent.
140 projects were presented to investors from Africa, Asia and Europe for financing intentions amounting to 1320 billion CFA francs.
"We encourage the UNWTO to pursue and accelerate its efforts in a context of continuous and rapid transformation of African economies which constitute one of the strongest poles of economic growth in the world", says Daniel Kablan Duncan, Vice-President from Ivory Coast.
This forum brought together 793 participants including players in the tourism industry, business leaders, investors, financial partners, builders, equipment manufacturers, managers, tour operators, policy makers, local authorities.
And especially the presence of Ministers and Vice Ministers in charge of tourism from 09 African countries namely, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Mali, Senegal, South Africa and Sierra Leone.