By Friday Nwosu
The 41st annual congress of Africa Travel Association (ATA) is set to hold on the 14th to 17th of November 2016 in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda.
ATA said it is working closely with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to ensure that it achieve a seamless event this year adding that the congress will address a broad range of issues affecting the development of tourism as an important economic sector in Africa.
President and CEO, Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) Stephen Hayes, said the association has formed a planning committee from a diverse group of CCA and ATA members to lend their advice and expertise concerning the congress’ program. He said “We have reached out to other organizations as well that are engaged in tourism”.
“We are optimistic about our partnership with the RDB and look forward to an exceptional Congress that will address a broad range of issues affecting the development of tourism as an important economic sector in Africa. We have also formed a planning committee from a diverse group of CCA and ATA members to lend their advice and expertise concerning the Congress’ program. We have reached out to other organizations as well that are engaged in tourism”.
“On April 4th, we conducted our first tourism working group, Destination Africa: The Future of African Tourism, at CCA’s offices led by Hon. Dr. Eng. Walter Mzembi, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry. Hon. Mzembi is also the chairperson of the Commission for Africa, under the UN World Tourism Organization, as well as his ministerial role. The working group was well attended and is the first of many such sessions.
“We are close to finalizing the new membership fee structure that will go into effect in 2017. We made every effort to be fair sensitive to the various member levels. The team has spent considerable time defining a roadmap that includes enhanced member benefits and services. While they have met and will continue to meet as many members as possible, it’s obviously not possible to connect with all of you one-one-on. In order to capture your feedback, we have put together a membership survey for your completion.
“If you have been to the site recently, you may have noticed some minor updates. In the coming weeks, the site will get an interim refresh. While the interim refresh will include making the site mobile friendly, the majority of the changes will be merely cosmetic and include existing content. The full rebuild of the site will begin this summer, with updates including dynamic consumer content (insights, blog); social media integration; member features (messaging, jobs/careers, digital library data, etc.).”
“We remain committed to continuing to work with New York University in the fall program around the UN General Assembly. We’ve engaged them and will start actively planning with their team later this month.”
“ATA’s Passport to Africa Newsletter will resume monthly delivery in June. Members should resume submitting their entries for the newsletter to passport@africatravelassociation.com.”
“We remain committed to continuing to work with New York University in the fall program around the UN General Assembly. We’ve engaged them and will start actively planning with their team later this month.”
