Continents Africa and America collaborate at historical summit, strategizing a shared vision for joint tourism progression.
The Punta Cana Declaration, the result of a two-day summit, marks a significant step forward in strengthening tourism cooperation between Africa and the Americas. UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili hailed the event as a unique platform for forging connections and building bridges between the two continents.
The summit aimed to strengthen partnerships between public and private sectors, stimulating investments in the tourism sector. High-level speakers emphasised the potential for joint investment initiatives, with a growing role of public and private banks. The Declaration, signed by tourism leaders from 27 countries, 15 from the Americas and 12 from Africa, sets out a set of shared commitments for the development of tourism as a driver of inclusive development.
The Declaration outlines specific initiatives to focus on investments, education, innovation, and creative industries through South-South cooperation. Promoting tourism investments is a key initiative, with guidelines such as “Tourism Doing Business” encouraging international investment in emerging markets like Namibia’s tourism sector.
To support competitions for start-up enterprises and entrepreneurs, to better support MSMEs, and to promote innovative solutions focused on sustainability and climate action, the summit also focused on innovation and technical cooperation in tourism. This includes enhancing connectivity, security, and tourist confidence.
The Declaration also places the spotlight on investments in tourism education and training, to expand access to learning and promote the use of innovation and new digital skills. This is reflected in regional forums held in Tanzania and Zimbabwe, which position culinary arts within sustainable tourism growth and link education with creative industries.
The summit emphasised the role of the cultural and creative industries in the tourism sector, with funding for projects that can attract tourists and grow new and diverse destinations. The Declaration also stresses the importance of tourism as a tool for the preservation of shared and unique culture and heritage.
The Punta Cana Declaration also highlights the urgent need for skilled workers in both regions, with a focus on "Young Talents Leading the Transformation." Tourism leaders recognised the need for joint capacity-building initiatives, including curriculum development and partnerships between academic institutions, industry stakeholders, and governmental bodies.
The Declaration also emphasises the importance of investments in the green transition of tourism, particularly in infrastructure and the hotel sector. The summit focused on the use of digital media in tourism development, including new products and strategies to promote tourism.
David Collado, Minister of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, and Auxillia Mnangagwa, Patron for Tourism in Zimbabwe, welcomed delegates and encouraged the building of bridges between the two regions. The summit supported market analysis, shared strategies for tourism development, and international tourism trade fairs to identify potential areas of shared growth and opportunity.
Overall, these initiatives under the Punta Cana Declaration are implemented by UN Tourism and partners to create a sustainable, innovative, and investment-friendly tourism ecosystem that bridges Africa and the Americas, elevating economic and cultural exchange across both regions. The signatories of the Declaration intend to "redouble their efforts" in promoting sustainable development through tourism, with a focus on strategic investments, education, innovation, and the creative industries.
- The Punta Cana Declaration, a result of a two-day summit, brings Africa and the Americas closer in tourism cooperation.
- UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili deemed the event a platform for building connections and bridges between the two continents.
- The summit aims to encourage partnerships between public and private sectors in the tourism sector, with a focus on investments.
- High-level speakers highlighted the potential for joint investment initiatives, with a growing role for public and private banks.
- The Declaration, signed by leaders from 27 countries, outlines commitments for tourism as a driver of inclusive development.
- The Declaration focuses on initiatives in investments, education, innovation, and creative industries through South-South cooperation.
- The summit emphasized the role of cultural and creative industries in the tourism sector, with funding for projects that attract tourists and grow new destinations.
- The Declaration places importance on tourism as a tool for preserving shared and unique culture and heritage, and encourages joint capacity-building initiatives in tourism education and training.
