ICTP partners with leading global trade association promoting tourism to Africa

The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) signed a cooperation agreement with ATA, the Africa Travel Association, the leading global trade association promoting tourism to Africa. For more than three decades, ATA members, representing government leaders and travel professionals worldwide, have strived to increase the flow of tourism arrivals and investments to and across Africa from around the world. In tandem, ATA headquarters has worked to develop and execute these strategies and to plan for the future.

Tourism is a pillar of economic growth in Africa and, to ensure that the continent gains from it, ATA encourages private and public investment, entrepreneurial initiatives, and strong partnerships that will benefit everyone involved. ATA’s success rests on the inspiration and ideas of its members and partners.

ATA Executive Director Edward Bergman witnessed the initial launch of the new ICTP destination alliance in May 2011 at the IIPT Summit in Lusaka, Zambia. The launch was announced at that conference by ICTP Chairman Juergen T. Steinmetz, and Executive Director Alain St Ange, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board.

ATA is committed to working with its members in the public and private sectors to support a successful and sustainable tourism industry”said Bergman,“We need to address tourism across sectors and across borders. This is why we are pleased to partner with this initiative.”

ICTP has a steady growth of very active members in Africa that include Johannesburg, La Reunion, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda.

ICTP Chairman Steinmetz said: “Africa in many ways has excellent policies in place and has planned for green growth. ATA is concentrating on marketing responsible tourism to this continent from North America and other regions.

“This partnership is a win-win for both organizations, and we’re looking forward to working with Edward Bergman and his team on upcoming opportunities and events. As a start, ICTP became a member of ATA, and ATA became an associated member of the International Council of Tourism Partners.”

ABOUT ICTP

The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a new grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. The ICTP logo represents the strength in collaboration (the block) of many small communities (the lines) committed to sustainable oceans (blue) and land (green).

ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support. ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, and fair coherent taxation.

ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization’s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them. The ICTP alliance is represented in Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA; Brussels, Belgium; Bali, Indonesia; and Victoria, Seychelles. ICTP membership is available to qualified destinations free of charge. Academy membership features a prestigious and selected group of destinations. Members of destinations currently include Anguilla; Grenada; Flores & Manggarai Baratkab County, Indonesia; La Reunion (French Indian Ocean); Northern Mariana Islands, US Pacific Island Territory; Palestine; Rwanda; Seychelles; Johannesburg, South Africa; Oman; Zimbabwe; and from the US: California; North Shore, Hawaii; Bangor, Maine; San Juan County, Utah; & Richmond, Virginia

For more information, go to: http://www.tourismpartners.org .

ABOUT THE AFRICA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION (ATA)

The Africa Travel Association (ATA) is the leading global trade association promoting travel and tourism to Africa and strengthening intra-Africa partnerships. Established in 1975, ATA serves both the 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 (AU) 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. For more information about ATA, visit http://www.AfricaTravelAssociation.org .