Published on : Sunday, February 2, 2020
Against the backdrop of FITUR, the round table discussion found out the unexploited potential of gastronomy tourism and the growing African fashion industry, especially, with regard to attracting international tourists. A session was also dedicated to the presentation of 10 projects aimed towards development of tourism in various countries in Africa, like South Africa, Zambia, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Côte d’Ivoire.
Inaugurating INVESTOUR 2020, the UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said, “The creative industries, including a thriving fashion industry, culture and gastronomy are all increasingly relevant ‘pull factors’. They are encouraging visitors to see another side to Africa. Investment in these sectors will pay dividends, not just for investors themselves but, equally or more important, also for African society as a whole.”
During FITUR, the UNWTO also released its latest statistics on international tourist numbers and trends. The data shows that international arrivals to African destinations reached 71 million in 2019, growing by 4% compared to 2018. This trend is expected to continue in the years ahead.