FITUR and WTO create investor forum to foster investment in Africa

Tourism can be a fundamental tool for boosting development in many regions of Africa.

Tourism can be a fundamental tool for boosting development in many regions of Africa. The International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR), together with the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) are hosting the first ever edition of INVESTOUR next January 21 as part of the parallel commercial activities taking place within the trade fair. Their common goal is to stimulate Spanish tourism investment in Africa thus contributing to the improvement of the conditions of life in many communities.

Luรญs Eduardo Cortรฉs, chairman of the IFEMA Executive Committee, FITURโ€™s organizing body, participated last October 3 in a WTO Commission for Africa held in Astana (Kazakhstan). At the meeting before the principal African tourism ministers and responsible personalities, Cortรฉs reiterated the benefits that this initiative could contribute to the economy of their territories: โ€œTourism is one of the sectors with the greatest impact on the socio-economic development of countries and regions. Without a doubt, contributing to this evolution is the main objective of INVESTOUR, which will be presenting Africaโ€™s enormous tourism potential to experienced Spanish entrepreneurs.” During the session, at which FITUR director Ana Larraรฑaga was also present, the chairman of IFEMA also stressed the Spanish outbound tourism market potential which โ€œin spite of the current world recession, has seen a 6.9 percent increase in travel to foreign countries during the first seven months of the year.”

During his speech, Cortรฉs assured attendees that IFEMA had already presented the project to the principal business associations (the CEOE, the CEIM, and the the Madrid Chamber of Commerce and Industry among others) โ€œwho have all declared their sincere enthusiasm towards the proposal.โ€ Cortรฉs then encouraged representatives of the main African Nations to participate in INVESTOUR, highlighting the fact that โ€œTogo, Morocco, Tunisia, and Cameroon have all already confirmed their presence. I would like to invite you to be next in joining this project and demonstrate all the potential of your tourism offer at INVESTOUR.”

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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