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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 is now a non profit company with Aloha

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African Tourism Board was approved by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission of South Africa to become a Non-Profit Company. A certificate was issued on Wednesday, January 8, 2020

“A new era for ATB starts from today”, says Doris Woerfel, CEO of the African Tourism Board. ATB Chairman  Cuthbert Ncube echoed expressing his excitement and commitment to expressing his desire for the African Tourism Board to become the prime voice of the African Travel and Tourism Industry.
Dr. Taleb Rifai gave it a thumb up today.

Juergen Steinmetz, founder of the organization said: “I am proud and humbled to have started this global grass route initiative for Africa and saw it developing into a reality.”

“I feel I brought a little bit of our Aloha Spirit from Hawaii to Africa, becoming an African at heart in this global world”, said Hawaii based founding Chairman Juergen Steinmetz.

African Tourism Board to the World: You have one more day!

“As the founding Chairman of the African Tourism Board, I like to recognize those that had supported me with the idea to form the African Tourism Board from the very beginning. Specifically, I wanted to point out  Carol Weaving from Reed Expo. Without providing our meeting room at the World Travel Market in 2018, and again for our launch at WTM Capetown in 2019,  this organization would not have started.”

The support from our initial members getting active behind the scene and before our launch was essential to get to where we are today. Such support was received

  • Dr. Taleb Rifai (former UNWTO Secretary-General),
  • Professor Geoffrey Lipman (President ICTP),
  • Alain St. Ange (former minister of tourism Seychelles),
  • Hon. Dr. Memunatu Pratt (Minister of Tourism Sierra Leone)
  • Hon. Edmund Bartlett (Minister of Tourism Jamaica),
  • Dr. Walter Mzembi (former Minister of Tourism Zimbabwe),
  • Gayan Anil Kumarsingh (former Minister of Tourism Mauritius)
  • Carol Weaving (Reed Expo),
  • Graham Cooke (World Travel Award),
  • Kameni Lele Francoise (Cameroon),
  • Louis D’Amore (IIPT),
  • Cuthbert Ncube (Kwela Group, South Africa),
  • Doris Woerfel (Southern Cross Experiences (PTY) Ltd, South Africa)
  • Apolinar Tairo, (eTN Tanzania)
  • Dr. Ngwire Mabvuto Percy (Embassy Zambia),
  • Dr. Pstrick Kalifunga (Zambia),  Maimouna Elshafie (Ministry Tourism Sudan) ,
  • Jean Claude Mobali-Banda (Republic of Congo),
  • President Bella, Ghana Tourism Federation (Ghana)
  • Kwakye Donkor  (South Africa, Ghana)
  • Idris Olukoya (News Agency Nigeria),
  • Rosemary Olive Mbon Enie, Salama Heritage (Tanzania),
  • Bea Broda (Travel Video TV, Canada) ,
  • Hermann Man, (Cote d’Ivoire),
  • Limfenyuy Kongnso Cyrille, National Polytechnic University Institute (Cameroon),
  • Gabriella Ribeiro< Tru Marketing (USA),
  • Wayne Johnson (Ecolodge Zaina Lodgem Ghana) 
  • Pascal Viroleau (Vanilla Island Organization, Reunion)
  • Mahmoud Kombo (Minister Tourism Zanzibar)
  • Jamal Boujrad (APEMENTO, Morocco),
  • Gecko’S Incentive and Events (Germany)
  • Yoseph Getnet Teshale Ghion travel and tours (Ethiopia),
  • Tony Smith (iFREE Group, Hong Kong),
  • Ali Rashid (Kenya Revenue Authority),
  • Pia von Waldau, (Inter Media Japan),
  • Kristy Angelotti (South African Tourism USA),
  • Ursula Brown (Cape Info South Africa),
  • Christopher Hill (Hands Up Holidays, New Zealand)
  • Jose Sandoval Zepeda (Orange Gruppo, Mexico),
  • Hans Soltau (Exclusive Africa Tours & Safaris, Namibia)
  • Abel Kimani (Alaitol Sadaris, Tanzania),
  • Gregory DeMelo (Bridgewater State University, USA),
  • Srath Wattegedra (Sunray Travel, Sweden),
  • Don Testa (Trip Ahoy,USA),
  • Joel Manjoko (Ultimate Safaris, Zimbabwe),
  • Rita Cook (The Insider Magazine, USA),
  • Dr. Rolf Herpens (Consulate Seychelles, Germany),
  • Tim Boxer (15 Minute Magazine, USA),
  • Sydney Pierre (LUX Resort, Mauritius),
  • Juan Torrents (FEMOZA, Switzerland),
  • Clive Bishop (Blue Skies Consultancy Group, UK) ,
  • Leo Udtohan (Philippine Daily Inquirer),
  • Nancy Needham (Global Travel & Tourism Partnership GTTP, USA) ,
  • Peter Hargrove (IBR News USA) ,
  • Pathum Wickramarathne (Free Media, Sri Lanka),
  • Shehara Rizly (Durga Das Publications, UAE), 
  • Salvador Alves Dias (News4 Travel, Portugal) ,
  • Manuel Sainz (eBiz Africa Review, Spain) ,
  • Art Fennel, (Fennell Media USA),
  • Ahmed Bassouni Korra (Sawah Tourism News, Egypt),
  • James Nadjope (Justice Tourism Foundation, Uganda) ,
  • Sambo Amadou (Oasis and Dream Resort, Niger),
  • Mercyline Mutarisi (Testimonial Media, Zimbabwe) ,
  • Junisa Precious Gbeteh Sallu Kallon (Juninnho Investments Company Limit, Sierra Leone),
  • Carolyn Anderson (Beyond All Borders, USA),
  • Hashim Mohamed (Kenya Utalii College, Kenya),
  • Craig Rix (Travel Africa Magazine, UK) ,
  • Helen Peek ( Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors, Tanzania) ,
  • Dr. Isa Byona, ( Africa Sustainable Tourism Care Foundation, Uganda),
  • Ariel Azoff (Atlas Obscura, South Africa),
  • Anton Vosloo (Lelobu Safaris, Botswana), 
  • Susanna Hagen (Profi Verlag, Germany)
  • Diana McIntyre-Pike (Countrystyle Community Tourism, Jamaica)
  • David Vequist, (Center for Medical Tourism Research, USA)
  • Tes Proos , (Crystal Events ,South Africa)
  • Sharon Parris-Chambers (Carib News, Jamaica)
  • Joseph Okelo, Global Travel and Tourism Partnership (Kenya)
  • Joey Moscovitch, Mccolline (Madagascar)
  • June Crawford, (Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa)
  • Gregory Bakunzi (Red Rocks Initiatives, Rwanda)
  • The entire global team of eTurboNews
  • International Coalition of Tourism Partner board members

The African Tourism Board is a nonprofit organization with one goal only to bring African Tourism together. More information: www.africantourismboard.com

MEDIA CONTACT: TravelMarketingNetwork, 954 Lexington Ave. #1037, New York, NY 10021 USA, PH: (+1) 718-374-6816, marketing@travelmarketingnetwork.com

African Tourism Board launch on Thursday: More details just released

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The African Tourism Board is ready to be launched in Cape Town on Thursday during the upcoming World Travel Market at the Cape Town International Convention Centre,
Conference Theatre.

A president and a CEO will be introduced during the launch event.
The focus of the launch event is diverse and includes Peace, Environment, Investment, Marketing, and Security.

African Tourism Board will be exhibiting at the World Travel Market on Stand AP12

15.30-15.40 Welcoming remarks

Juergen Steinmetz

Interim chairman of African Tourism Board
Chairman International Coalition of Tourism Partners

Introducing the African Tourism Board, Vision, Board Members, African Leaders,
Introduction of the new ATB President

Tourism, Investments & Peace:
It’s a People Business

15.40-15.55
Dr. Taleb Rifai

Former UNWTO Secretary-General
2015-2017

A special place: Cape Town

15.55-16.00
Enver Duminy
CEO Cape Town Tourism

A Minister of Tourism Speaks:

16.00-16.05
Hon. Moses Vikati

Minister of Tourism & Environmental Affairs
Kingdom of Eswatini, formerly Swaziland

Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards

16.05-16.10

Kwakye Donkor
CEO African Tourism Partner
Ghana & South Africa

The Role of Cameroon Tourism

16.10-16.15

Francoise Kameni Lele
AFBS Cameroon

Travel & Tourism Security and Safety

Keynote Speaker

16.10-16.40
Dr. Peter Tarlow, USA
Travel Security and Safety
www. safertourism.com

African Lung: It’s a launch today

Launch Announcement

16.40-17.00

Professor Geoffrey Lipman
President International Coalition of Tourism Partners
President SunX
The launch of Africa Lung, the most ambitious travel & tourism climate response program with its central focus on Africa.

Reaching out to Overseas Markets

The US Market Potential: Not only New York or Los Angeles

17.00-17.05

Juergen Steinmetz, president eTN Corporation
Inbound markets from USA

Chinese Tourists: How to do it

17.05-17.10

Doris Woerfel, CEO Southern Cross Experience, South Africa
China inbound market for Africa

Travelers from Israel: A huge potential

17.10-17.15

Dov Kalmann, Israel
Israel inbound market for Africa

Why Indians want to explore Africa

17.15-17.20

Arjun Mukund, T&A Consulting, Delhi, India
Indian inbound market for Africa

The Road Forward for African Tourism Board

I have a dream!

17.20-17.30

Alain St. Ange, Seychelles
Former Minister of Tourism Seychelles
President St. Ange Consulting

The Global Trade Show for Africa

17.30

Carol Weaving

Managing Director of Reed Exhibition Africa

Travel News | eTurboNews

Carlos Vogeler starts leading position at Ministry of Tourism in Oman

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It appears the implementation of the National Tourism Strategy of Oman is in excellent hands. Last week Carlos Vogeler started a two-year contract with the Ministry of Tourism of Oman, where he is now leading a team that will support Minister Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrizi and his team on implementation.

Carlos Vogeler was considered by many leaders as one of the most influential executives in the travel and tourism world when he served as the executive director of UNWTO under Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. Together with Korean Ambassador Dho Young-shim, Mr. Voegeler was a candidate for UNWTO Secretary-General in 2017.

Mr. Vogeler was with the World Tourism Organization for 9 years. He was honored on November 29, 2017, at the UNWTO Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth in Montego Bay by the Hon. Ed Bartlett, Minister of Tourism of Jamaica.

Before Mr. Carlos Vogeler joined UNWTO in 2005 he was a tenured professor at University “Rey Juan Carlos”, Madrid, at the Dpt. of Business Economics, a regular lecturer at Spanish and International Universities and author of various university textbooks, as well as numerous articles on international tourism structure.

Mr. Vogeler started his career in the private sector at Pullmantur, one of the largest Spanish Tour Operators. During his sixteen years of service from 1974 to 1990, he became Deputy Managing Director and introduced many innovations, namely expanding the number of destinations and products and opening new offices and new markets. He also played an active role in the board of directors of the Spanish Travel Agencies Association of Travel Agencies and in UFTAA (United Federation of Travel Agent’s Associations), where he chaired the committee on road transportation.

From 1991 to 2008 he served in various senior management positions at Group RCI, part of Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality groups, quoted in the New York Stock Exchange, where he was Managing Director for South-Western Europe, covering Spain, France, Portugal and Benelux and later Vice president of Global Account Strategy & Industry Relations.

He was elected Chairman of the Affiliate Members of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) from 2005 to 2008, representing Group RCI. Since 1997 he had been serving as Vice President of the board of the Affiliate Members and Chairman of the Business Council and member of the UNWTO Strategic Group.

He is also a founding member of the Spanish Association of Experts in Tourism (AECIT) and was a member of the International Association of Experts in Tourism (AIEST).

Carried out his studies in Canada and in Spain, graduating in Tourism Business Administration by “Escuela Oficial de Turismo de Madrid” (now University Rey Juan Carlos) and post-graduate by the IESE Business School, of the University of Navarra – Spain.

Mr. Vogeler was born in Venezuela of Spanish mother and Venezuelan-German father and is a national of Spain and Venezuela.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Africa Tourism is hot: WTTC and the African Tourism Board are on it

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Africa Tourism is hot right now. Overlooked in the past, the tourism potential of the African continent is now becoming visible.

The first African Tourism Board (ATB) is about to be launched in Cape Town during the upcoming World Travel Market Africa in South Africa on April 11 with a list of impressive speakers, ministers, private industry leaders, and stakeholders attending.

A week before the ATB launch in Cape Town on April 11, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) is getting ready for their annual summit in Seville, Spain. With a price tag of $4,000 for a delegate to attend the summit, WTTC is catering to the hundred largest companies in the travel and tourism industry.

Keynote speaker at the summit is none other than former US President Barack Obama who is getting paid an enormous amount of money to share his views on tourism with WTTC CEO Gloria Guevara.

In Cape Town at the African Tourism Board launch, former UNWTO Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai is paying his own way, and so are a number of tourism celebrities and stakeholders from both larger and smaller entities. They want to show their excitement and support for the new African Tourism Board and the potential Africa has for new tourism developments. It’s free to attend the African Tourism Board launch event.

In the last 7 days, the news on tourism growth and potential for African destinations couldn’t have been better and must have come as a surprise for many.

WTTC issued one press release after another on their research reports for Africa. eTN received such releases not only from WTTC but also from ministers, embassies, and tourism boards showing their pride and maybe their surprise and encouragement.

African Tourism Board interim Chairman Juergen Steinmetz, who is also CEO of the eTN Corporation, owner of eTurboNews, which is a media partner for WTTC, applauded Gloria Guevara, CEO of WTTC, for putting Africa in the spotlight for the world’s largest travel and tourism companies.

To attend the WTTC summit, click here; to attend the ATB launch, click here.
Anyone attending both events should indicate this on the African Tourism Board launch registration to receive additional extensive visibility.

Travel News | eTurboNews