In his address at the fifth edition of the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit & Challenge, the Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili highlighted the significance of education and technological development for youth empowerment in the tourism sector.
The event, which is ongoing in Swakopmund is hosted by the Government of Namibia and organised by Africa Tourism Partners, is focusing on leveraging the potential of young people to drive the evolution of the tourism industry.
The Secretary-General commended the joint efforts of Namibia and Africa Tourism Partners in supporting UNWTO’s agenda for Africa, which prioritizes inclusive growth through tourism. Africa, being the youngest continent with 60% of its population under the age of 25, holds immense potential for socio-economic advancement through the tourism sector.
Acknowledging the importance of capacitating the next generation of tourism professionals, the UNWTO Head stressed the need to provide marketable skills and empower youth to realize their potential. Involving young people in decision-making processes and offering them opportunities for innovation in the tourism sector was emphasized as crucial.
“This will be possible only if the next generation of tourism professionals are capacitated with marketable skills and empowered to realize their best potential. Thus, it is important to involve youth in the decision-making processes and give them appropriate opportunities to work and innovate the tourism sector,” Pololikashvili stated.
The UNWTO, he added, is committed to increasing access to tourism education and building a highly qualified workforce. The organization has launched several initiatives to achieve these objectives. Notably, the recently released Tourism Education Guidelines provide clear pathways for creating a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative tourism sector.
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