Zim, Zambia sponsor US tourism forum

Tanzanian Tourism Board and Tanzania National Parks while  South African Airways represented South Africa.
The forum was held yesterday at New York University’s Kimmel Centre and Zimbabwe’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi, who is the current ATA president, addressed the forum.
His Zambian counterpart, Tourism and Arts Minister, Sylvia Masebo, also delivered opening remarks.
In a statement, ATA said the two ministers were expected to provide an update on the upcoming UNWTO General Assembly to be held in Victoria Falls and Livingstone in August next year.
More than 126 countries are expected to participate in this international event.
The forum was also expected to host an interactive roundtable on the benefits of tourism.
Other notable figures who attended and addressed the forum include Benin President Boni Yayi, Uganda Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, African Union Permanent Representative to the USA Amina Ali, Gambian Tourism and Culture Minister Fatou Mas Jobe Njie, African Development Bank chief economist and vice president Professor Mthuli Ncube and  Senior Counsellor UNWTO Liaison Office to the United Nations Mr Sarbuland Khan.
Other dignitaries at the forum included the Africa House director and Professor of Economics at the New York University Dr Yaw Nyarko, Global Partnership Forum chairman and Special Representative of the International Telecommunications Union secretary- general Mr Amir Dossal and ATA executive director Mr Edward Bergman.
The ATA is the leading global trade association promoting travel and tourism to Africa and strengthening inter-Africa partnership.
The association was established in 1975 to serve both public and private sectors of the international travel and tourism industry.
ATA membership comprises African governments, their tourism ministers, tourism bureaus and boards, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, front-line travel sellers and providers, tour operators and travel agents, and affiliate industries.
ATA partners with the African Union Commission to promote the sustainable development of tourism to and across Africa. ATA’s annual events bring together industry leaders to shape Africa’s tourism agenda.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Association chief executive, Mr Karikoga Kaseke, was leading a high-powered delegation at the forum.