Tourism Indaba: African countries told to unite to send positive growth message
Seychelles Tourism Minister says when African countries work together it is easier to send the right message to the rest of the world when it comes to tourism growth and development.
Alian St. Ange had been speaking this morning at the Tourism Indaba breakfast underway at the Hilton Hotel, in Durban. Seychelles is the fourth country belonging to the East3 route vehicle cross border development pact which the Mpumalanga Province is now also part of.
He says if African countries pull together they can change the world's perception of Africa especially when it comes to the effects of epidemics on tourism.
"My appeal to delegates, and I know I have some colleagues from different parts of Africa here present, is that if we really want Tourism Indaba to be a focus where we all come to see South Africa, not just as a source market but as a rallying point every year, we need to be present," he said.
"Last night at the ministers forum it was rather sad that there were some 8 of us out of 54 countries. We talk, but we do not put our money where our mouth is, and this is always disappointing," St Ange said.
(Photo: Anelisa Kubheka)