Siandou Fofana, Minister of Tourism of Côte d’Ivoire is the new chair of the Regional Commission of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for Africa.
This is one of the main conclusions drawn from the 64th Meeting of the Regional Commission, hosted by Cabo Verde which took place in the city of Santa Maria, Island of Sal.
Expressing his delight at the opportunity to lead CAF, Siandou Fofana said his new role presents him an opportunity to put his country and Africa on the global tourism map.
“I appreciate the confidence reposed in Ivory Coast and me to lead CAF for the next two years to ensure that we build an African brand that gives more visibility and legibility to Ivory Coast. And we will ensure that Africa’s enormous potential can be developed and enhanced,” he said.
The Minister said he would work to establish a fund that would drive investments into the tourism sector in Africa. He stated: “We are going to plead for the establishment, with the help of our friendly countries, establishment of a guarantee fund and an investment fund that will make it possible to support investments throughout our continent.”
As Chairperson of CAF, Siandou Fofana says he will also focus attention on increasing connectivity among African countries and the rest of the world.
“It goes without saying also that it is important to create a larger network of air and road connectivity in order to have more connections between our territories and then with the rest of the world because without air connectivity we cannot really develop tourism,” he stressed.
In the wake up the huge gap existing in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the new CAF Chair believes, “we should all be united to fight against this pandemic by ensuring that Africa is not on the margins of vaccination, and to ensure that we reach the maximum number of people and that Africa has its own brand of vaccine and that it is disseminated to the people, to the effect of opening up our continent to the world.”
