African Tourism Amazon Waturi leaves tremendous footprints at East African Tourism Platform

It is with a very heavy heart that I write to officially inform you that I will be leaving the East Africa Tourism Platform at the end of this week after a three year incredible journey. This decision was not easy as it involved many days of thoughtful consideration and prayer. Working for EATP and with you has been a wonderful experience and I feel privileged to have offered my skills and experience to the tourism sector in East Africa.

I however leave proud of having played a small part in the successful lobbying for the EAC Single Tourism Visa, Use of ID’s as travel documents for Citizens, Foreign Residents Visa Free travel, free movement of tourism services, joint marketing initiatives and partial liberalization/opening up of EAC air space under the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda)-Tourism Cluster. I wish to thank the Heads of State for putting tourism on top of their agenda and the Ministries in charge of Tourism, Immigration and Transport for their continuous efforts to create an enabling environment for tourism growth. I also I wish to thank the Tourism Boards for sharing the vision of EATP and for embracing intra and inter-regional tourism promotion in their strategies. At but not least, I wish to thank the Board of EATP for providing leadership and giving me a free hand to build EATP to what it is today. We still have a long way to go and the journey will never be complete until all these benefits extend to the full EAC.

A lot more initiatives are in the works such as the rolling out National Tourism Inter-ministerial stakeholder’s forums, technical support for national tourism associations and enhanced joint marketing activities all aimed at enhancing Tourism Competiveness in the region.  The 2nd edition of the East Africa Tourism Guide will be published early next year after having distributed 6,000 copies of the 1st edition. I do hope that this guide will continue to grow the sector’s business to business networks within and outside of East Africa.

EATP will continue to lobby for free movement of persons, services and other tourism related issues within the EAC and as envisioned by our Leaders and as provided by the EAC Common Market Protocol. I do hope that Tourism and Wildlife Management Sectoral Council meetings will be held more frequently and that the agenda will be reviewed to reflect current needs and quick wins to fast track integration.

My parting shot to the private sector:

1.    The tourism landscape in East Africa changed when the five Heads of State signed the EAC Treaty and Common Market protocol. The sector needs to respond to this change and embrace intra and inter regional tourism which will enhance product offering, expand source markets, attract high yield markets and enrich visitors’ experiences. YOUR BIGGEST GROWTH WILL COME FROM AFRICA!

“You cannot use an old map to find new routes” Wale Akinyemi

2.    Tariff and Non-Tariff barriers continue to reduce and EATP will continue to focus on eliminating the same. Use this platform to raise your issues.

3.    The Private Sector should put in more time to create and maintain an enabling environment for tourism to thrive. Spend 15% of your time engaging the Public sector through your national associations. Show more interest and participate. Be part of the solution and stay united.

“Take a good long look at the end game and figure out all the million little details it will take to get there — and tackle them one by one.”- Anonymous