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African Tourism Board statement on the passing of HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh

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The African Tourism Board President Alain St.Ange has paid tribute to Prince Philp saying he was more than a public figure.


Alain St.Ange was speaking on behalf of the Executive Committee of the African Tourism Board when he expressed Africa’s sympathy to HRH Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Family, the People of Great Britain and also Members of the Commonwealth Family.

“We all remember the Prince as not just the consort to Her Majesty the Queen but also as a man who saw greatness beyond the borders of the United Kingdom”


Many countries on the African Continent remember fondly the Prince visits to our shores, each with a historical tale to tell” St.Ange said.

Africa has been marked by these visits starting with their stay at Tree Tops in Kenya when news broke of the passing of the King and father of Queen Elizabeth” St.Ange said in ending.

www.africantourismboard.com

African Tourism Board is reaching out to Mauritius facing another crisis

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Pretoria, South Africa: The African Tourism Board (ATB) has learned with great concern about the unprecedented incident of a disastrous oil-spill in Mauritius.

It comes when the tourism sector is meant to gradually bounce back in the Continent.
This accident will surely have a long-lasting environmental impact and the people of Mauritius are facing this situation at a time every country is dealing with a deadly pandemic that has brought our sector to a standstill.

Cuthbert Ncube, Chair of ATB said: “The people of Mauritius however are an example to the world when it comes to resilience in keeping the virus off their shores. “

Cuthbert Ncube, Chairman African Tourism Board

“There are times when countries should rally behind each other and come up with an African mechanism in quilling and dealing with such eventualities”, ATB Chairman Cuthbert Ncube added. “We are ready to assist Mauritius. Also, we’re applauding the people leading the travel and tourism industry in Mauritius in coming together in large numbers to respond to this unexpected additional crisis.”

The African Tourism Board believes in tourism to be a catalyst for unity, peace, growth, and prosperity for the people of Africa.

The African Tourism Board is an organization where Africa becomes One Tourist Destination of Choice in the World.

More information on the African Tourism Boar can be found at www.africantourismboard.com

Source: African Tourism Board Press Office

First Press Conference for Project Hope and Rebuilding Travel scheduled

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The African Tourism Board, Project Hope, and Rebuilding.travel scheduled their first global virtual update and press-conference for Tuesday, June 23, 2012. Journalists and those interested are invited to attend.

Project Hope is the response to COVID-19 for the African Tourism Board.

Rebuilding.travel is the global communication on COVID-19 and the travel and tourism industry in more than 114 countries.

Both initiatives are inviting to a public press-conference to update about their activities under the chairmanship of Dr. Taleb Rifai, former secretary- general of the World Tourism Organization UNWTO

Tuesday, June 23, 2020
19.00h South Africa | Germany |  7.00h Hawaii Time | 10.00 California | Noon Chicago | 13.00 New York |  18.00 London | 20:00 Jordan – Israel – Saudi Arabia | 21.00 UAE | Midnight Bangkok | 1.00 Hong Kong | 2.00 Tokyo

Click here to register

African Tourism Board reaches out to the EU

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African Tourism Board (ATB) Task Force members and tourism experts aired their views, seeking the European Union to support Africa with tourism recovery and development plans in the post-Covid-19 pandemic timeframe.

In their virtual (webinar) meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Tuesday evening, May 19, 2020, ATB senior executives, members, and tourism experts called for support from the EU for African countries with tourism recovery and development stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic that has mostly stamped out tourism on the continent.

ATB Patron and conference moderator, Dr. Taleb Rifai, along with Patron, Alaine St.Ange, called for EU support for Africa on the post-COVID-19 road to tourism recovery.

Dr. Rifai said that Africa needs financial back-up and other support from the EU for tourism recovery as well as development programs amid and after the COVID-19 pandemic. He told conference participants that African countries need financial support from the European Union whose members are the leading tourism market sources for Africa.

Panelists and participants of the conference discussed pertinent issues targeting Africa’s tourism development, ranging from safety and security to health and education.

Dr. Peter Tarlow spoke about domestic and regional tourism development in Africa, pegging a context of Tanzania which ATB Ambassador Mary Kalikawe had forwarded for discussion.

Peter also spoke about security and Public Private Partnership (PPP) in development of domestic and regional tourism bases in Africa.

“People should visit and enjoy their own tourism. Africans should strive to visit their own continent before opting to travel outside the continent which is very expensive,” Peter said.

He said that tourism stakeholders should carry a “Message of Tourism as a Message of Hope.” Integrated efforts, training, and security are crucial on ensuring Africa’s tourism development during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initial post-COVID-19 travels are expected in such areas as families, friends, and sports, Peter added during his webinar conference discussion.

Participants also discussed the need to bring Africa’s rich history onto the tourism docket with support from UNESCO, which can also support tourism recovery in African national parks and islands under a resilience project.

Key issues discussed, among others, included a need to develop “Tourism Resilience Zones” in Africa, pegging at tourist attractions and products available in each zone.

Egypt and Jordan were cited as good examples of single tourist zones in the Mediterranean, taking into account their ancient civilizations which are tourist draws in both of these countries of North Africa and the Middle East.

The Vanilla Islands in the Indian Ocean were also suggested as being included on a list of COVID-19 Free Zones to attract tourists for the time being.

ATB Senior Member, Dr. Walter Mzembi, said that Africa’s source markets should recover first so as to open doors for Africa’s post-COVID-19 recovery.

A good number of issues were brought before the panel for discussion during the exciting 90-minute webinar conference which attracted ATB Ambassadors in Africa as well as outside the continent to take part in the event.

Several projects aimed to develop tourism in Africa were discussed with feedback provided from ATB supervisors and executives.

The African Tourism Board is an association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from, and within the African region. For more information and how to join, visit africantourismboard.com .

#rebuildingtravel

Project Hope Travel launched

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The birth of “A New World Tourism” was launched today with supporters in 26 countries. The New Tourism initiative is s called Project Hope Travel. www.projecthope.travel

Hashtag #projecthopetravel was established to share ideas, initiatives for tomorrow’s tourism. This is a public-private partnership to prepare for a new reality of the travel and tourism industry after COVID-19.

“There is a lot of love, passion and hope for tourism. Tourism the way we know it will be history, but if we play our cards well, it will emerge even better and more beautiful”, said Juergen Steinmetz, CEO of the Travel News Group. He is also a founding member of this group.

Now is the time for everyone in this industry to take a seat on a virtual table and share ideas, projects and initiatives. Tourism is an industry of peace, and the chance for tourism to show this has never been better.
Project Hope Travel provides this platform.

Why Iranians and Americans are friends beyond conflicts
Juergen Steinmetz speaking at the Islamic Hall of the People in Teheran in 2008. Sitting next to him is Louis D’Amore founder and president of the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism

Najib Balala, secretary of tourism Kenya, Louis D’Amore, founder of the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism, Deepak Joshi, former CEO Nepal Tourism Board, Pascal Viroleau, CEO of the Vanilla Island Tourism Organization, Ambassador Dho Young-shim from South Korea, or Minister Edmund Bartlett from Jamaica are only some of the people who had the idea and helped to established Project Hope Travel.

Kenyan President confirmed as Tourism Resilience Center Honorary Co-Chair
Hon. Najib Balala (left), Kenya’s Minister of Tourism and Wildlife, gives his Government’s endorsement of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM) hosted by the Ministry of Tourism at the offices of the Jamaica Tourist Board, New Kingston. Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett

Current tourism leaders get a chance to share their ideas with those running and operating the industry. A new set of future movers and shakers is about to emerge to make tourism a more responsible, more beautiful and more profitable industry.

Zachary-Rabinor-and-Gloria-Guevara
Gloria-Guevara

Today the World Travel and Tourism Council will announce its “Together in Travel”  Campaign. Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC told her members:  “Dreaming is part of our zest for life and our new campaign encourages thoughts of the brighter days ahead. Travel & Tourism is a critical sector to the global economy, accounting for one in four of all new jobs worldwide and contributing 10.3% to GDP. Our sector touches everyone. It builds communities, reduces poverty in the world and improves the social impact of everyday lives. Yet we are uniquely exposed at this time due to Covid-19.

Last Week “From Bahamas with Love” video was introduced. Abu Dhabi, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, and many others had released their own beautiful virtual and video campaigns. Project Hope Travel is bringing all these initiatives under one roof.

The Hon. Moses Vilikati. member of this group and the Minister of Tourism for Eswatini proudly presented a video message from this beautiful African Kingdom.

How will tomorrow’s tourism look like?

Project Hope Travel was launched to shape tomorrow’s tourism and help industry members to find resources and assist with a tough reality.

Bringing some of the brightest minds in the global world of tourism together, putting them on one virtual table, and adding smart and dedicated people from all sectors and positions in the industry will create new synergy and. This is what Project Hope Travel wants to assist with.

Project Hope Travel

Project Hope Travel was an initiative that emerged at a board meeting by the COVID-19 task force meeting of the  African Tourism Board

African Tourism Board President: African tourism is one
Alain St.Ange, President of the African Tourism Board

Co-Chair Alain St. Ange, former minister of tourism from Seychelles summarized it: “Hope for Africa and for the World at large is today so needed. But just hoping will not make a difference by itself. This is why I am thankful that a group of dedicated tourism professionals has joined together to not only initiate Project Hope Travel, but to also make time to steer it for the benefit of everyone in the world.

TalebLouis
Taleb Rifai & Louis D’Amore

Chairman Dr. Taleb Rifai, who was also the UNWTO Secretary-General reminded: “We all came out of Africa.
In today’s world, I would like to believe that, the transformative power of travel and tourism, when well managed and utilized, is a cornerstone in establishing world peace and in turn a better world, for people and planet. Protecting our cultural and natural heritage, Empowering local communities. Breaking down stereotypes enabling us to experience, enjoy and celebrate the beauty of our rich cultural diversity. These are indeed some of tourism’s contributions to MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

Project Hope Travel already has the support of tourism ministers, top-level executives, and travel professionals working in all levels of the industry. At launch Project, Hope Travel has supporters in 26 countries and 5 continents. WTTC and the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Center are among those on the virtual table.

Birth of “A New World Tourism”: Project Hope Travel
Cuthbert Ncube and Hon Najib Balala

ATB Chairman Cuthbert Ncube said: “As Africa is speaking with a united voice in curbing the scourge of the pandemic, this is an encouraging endeavor in a crisis that has driven the west and the east to shift their priorities. Together we will succeed and become stronger. Project Hope Travel is Africa’s contribution to the world of tourism.”

There is no charge to join the discussion and share initiatives. Everyone ready to participate is welcome.

More information on www.projecthope.travel 

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Project Hope Travel