Mauritius Hosts Southern Africa Youth in Tourism Conference
The Southern Africa Youth in Tourism Conference, under the theme Promoting Sustainable Tourism Development through Involvement and Participation of the Youth, opened this morning at Pointe-aux-Piments Recreational Centre in Pointe-aux-Piments.
Organised by the Ministry of Tourism and External Communications and the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA), the two-day event is being attended by several public and private stakeholders directly involved in Youth in Tourism issues and Youths involved in the tourism sector.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Yogida Sawmynaden, said that for many decades, tourism in the African continent was spearheaded by the northern Maghreb region. He recalled that during the last five years, the tourism industry of that region has suffered a lot due to political instability and terrorism.
According to him, the conference is timely as it is presently calls for a reflection on how to tap and develop tourism markets, particularly with the world becoming a village. Africa, said the Minister, is the new place to be. Economists are optimistic about growth rates on the continent and some African countries are even achieving double-digit growth, he stated.
Recalling figures, the Minister pointed out that Africa receives 3% of the tourism receipts in the world, as well as 5% of arrivals. However, Southern Africa only receives 2% of both, yet the region has, if put together, arguably the best tourism resource base in the world, he observed.