The 68th Meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) opened in Abuja with a powerful call for unity, innovation and youth empowerment in the tourism sector. Delivering the keynote address, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili declared, “The road from Abuja 2018 to here and now has proved that when Africa speaks with one voice, the world listens.”
Held under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy of Nigeria, the high-level gathering brought together key tourism stakeholders from across the continent, including Hon. Hannatu Musa Musawa of Nigeria, Hon. Christian Harold Richard Duval of Mauritius (CAF Chair), and Hon. Rebecca Miano of Kenya (CAF Vice-Chair).
Pololikashvili praised the continent’s post-pandemic recovery, noting that international tourist arrivals in Africa reached 96% of 2019 levels in 2024, while tourism revenues are rebounding even faster.
“Africa’s tourism recovery is now among the fastest in the world,” he said, attributing this success to the UN Tourism Agenda for Africa, which has prioritised investment, destination marketing, and skills development.
“We mobilised fresh investment, launched targeted marketing to strengthen Brand Africa, and prioritised skills training for young people and women,” he told delegates.
The Secretary-General urged African nations to continue leveraging their creative industries—music, film, fashion, and cuisine—as powerful tourism magnets.
“Tourism flourishes when it celebrates innovation and creativity,” he said. “Let us scale up programmes that link young designers, musicians and filmmakers with tourism boards and investors, turning talent into prosperity and pride.”
Emphasising the importance of Africa’s youthful population, Pololikashvili described youth empowerment as the continent’s greatest advantage.
“When learning is lifelong and inclusive,” he said, “tourism becomes a ladder out of poverty and a platform for leadership in technology, conservation and culture alike.”
Reflecting on his first official visit to Abuja as Secretary-General in 2018, when Nigeria hosted the 61st UN Tourism CAF Meeting, Pololikashvili called the return “deeply symbolic,” noting that it was in this very city that Africa’s tourism leaders first made a bold commitment to sustainable development through tourism.
“To President Bola Tinubu, the Government of Nigeria and all partners who have made this gathering possible, I offer our heartfelt thanks,” he said. “To every delegate, your commitment and ideas are the lifeblood of African tourism.”
With the meeting continuing for the next two days, delegates are set to discuss strategies to strengthen intra-African travel, promote sustainable tourism, and further integrate the continent’s rich cultural assets into global tourism offerings.
