#GSRwanda: African presidents unite to promote tourism as the continent’s future
The 23rd World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit, themed “Building Bridges for a Sustainable Future,” witnessed a powerful show of unity and optimism as the Presidents of Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Vice President of Burundi took the stage to share their vision for Africa’s tourism industry.
The resounding message: the future of global travel and tourism lies in Africa, and the continent is ready to seize this opportunity.
In the opening remarks at the summit, President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, emphasized how his country’s deliberate policies and actions have transformed Rwanda through the power of travel and tourism. “We imagined a Rwanda where anyone in the world would want to travel to, and that is why we identified tourism as an engine for economic growth, and we’ve not been disappointed,” he explained.
Kagame stressed that conservation was a crucial part of their strategy to build a sustainable future. Rwanda’s commitment to tourism extends to developing more infrastructure to host significant events, including sporting competitions.
Moreover, Kagame urged African countries to eliminate hurdles that hinder travel between nations, such as streamlining visa acquisition processes and possibly eliminating them for Africans. He reiterated the call for the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market, which is key to fostering trade and travel. “We should not lose sight of our own continental market… Africa is the future of global tourism,” he declared.
Source: Voyages Afriq