Mzembi, Kaseke woo American tourists

Authority.
In an interview, ZTA chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke, who is leading the Zimbabwe delegation, said the forum was an integral platform to discuss how the African continent as a tourism destination can leverage on various opportunities in existence to spur tourism growth and development.
“The United States is a traditional and primary source market for Zimbabwe and certainly we cannot afford to ignore this market.
“We are very glad to be working closely with ATA, first as Africa and importantly as Zimbabwe as we intend to invest all energies to regain the lost market share in this part of the world,” he said.
The president of ATA who is also Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Engineer Walter Mzembi, is expected to address the forum among a host of other African luminaries that will grace the forum.
The event will run under the theme, “Benefits of Tourism”, particularly in relation to the economy, environment and people.
In a statement, the ATA said the forum would advance high level discussions on Africa’s tourism outlook that is likely to generate debate and interest among the representatives of the African continent.
“It is the general view among the leadership in Africa that tourism has been universally acknowledged to be one of the fastest growing and resilient economic sectors with a well recognised potential to drive growth and stability. However, despite Africa’s potential the continent has not yet experienced equitable tourism growth,” said ATA.
The role of ATA in the continent’s quest for tourism growth and development is likely to come under the spotlight together with issues relating to visas, air access, infrastructure development, ICT and human skills development.
Dignitaries expected to attend the symposium include Benin President Dr Boni Yayi, Ambassador Extraordinary, Plenipotentiary and Africa Union permanent representative to the USA Ambassador Amina Ali, and Gambian Tourism and Culture Minister Fatoe Mas Jobe Njie.
Other dignitaries include International Council of Tourism Partners president Professor Geoffrey Lipman and ATA executive director Edward Bergman.
The one-day forum is ATA’s signature event in the United States that is held annually on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings.