 |
||||||||||||
Message from the ATA President Dear Members of the Africa Travel Association, While I feel greatly honoured by my election to the ATA Presidency at the 35th Congress in Banjul, I am equally humbled by the trust and confidence reposed in me to serve this noble association in such a high office. In the same vein, I am aware of the enormous challenges ahead but I feel emboldened by the outpouring of support manifested by members during my election. Clearly, a lot has been achieved in the recent years, we need to consolidate the gains and forge ahead towards higher heights. I believe the great moments for ATA are still ahead. Together, we need to tap the potentials of every member, share ideas in a spirit of solidarity and teamwork and take advantage of the innovative and smart technologies for greater efficiency and success in the Travel and Tourism industry. We cannot afford to rest on our laurels, the huge expectations of our peoples must serve as an impetus to rally us around the common agenda of socio economic development. For many small states and developing countries, tourism is not only an important source of income; it plays an essential part in their efforts to lift themselves out of poverty. We therefore must devise relevant policies to unlock the industry’s potential to drive economic growth, create employment and bring significant social and cultural benefits to humankind. We must take our vision and convey it globally, so that we can make this world a better place. In conclusion, may I avail myself of this opportunity on behalf of His Excellency Sheikh Dr Professor Alhagie Yahya A.J.J Jammeh the President of the Republic of The Gambia, the people of the Gambia and on my own behalf to sincerely thank all those who in one way or the other have contributed to the success of the Congress. The presentations, statements, and recommendations made must be vigorously pursued to ensure measured implementation of all action points. Unless we commit ourselves to some monitoring mechanisms, it will be difficult to hold ourselves to the high standards we set.
Message from the ATA Executive Director Dear Members, Colleagues and Friends, For more than three decades, ATA members have strived to increase the flow of tourism to Africa from around the world. In tandem, ATA headquarters has worked to develop and execute these strategies, and to plan for the future. Tourism is a pillar of economic growth in Africa and, to ensure that the continent gains from it, ATA encourages private and public investment, entrepreneurial initiatives and strong partnerships that will benefit everyone involved. ATA’s success rests on the inspiration and ideas of its members and partners. We look to you to lead us in meeting present and future challenges and hope you will contribute your voice and your energy to our shared mission.
Edward Bergman
Message from The Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission I would like to express my appreciation for the role that the Africa Travel Association (ATA) has played all along in improving and strengthening the travel industry in Africa. The African Union Commission (AUC), leading Africa integration, reiterates its readiness to work with ATA and its stakeholders in order to speed up the development of this important industry. Thats why the AUC and ATA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding dedicated to promoting the sustainable development of tourism to and across Africa. Dr. Elham M.A. Ibrahim Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy African Union Commission |
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
