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News
Release
Africa Travel Association Draws Tourism
Industry Leaders to Africa
NEW
YORK, N.Y., April 30 2007: Leading
international travel and tourism industry
professionals will join tourism ministers,
heads of tourism boards, and private
sector entrepreneurs interested in travel
to Africa at the Africa Travel
Association's 32nd annual conference in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from May 6-11 under
the theme "Branding Africa as a
Continental Tourism Destination."
ATA's
hallmark event, hosted by Ethiopia's
Ministry of Culture and Tourism and
sponsored by the official congress carrier
Ethiopia Airlines, is in time for the
celebration of Ethiopia's millennium
celebrations. The event will culminate
with the signing of a declaration by
tourism ministers and senior
representatives from intergovernmental
organizations, which will reflect their
commitment to bringing the world to
Africa.
"Travel
and tourism to Africa is a powerful force
for economic growth, job creation,
cultural preservation, environmental
protection, and peace and stability. To
drive industry growth, ATA is building
strong partnerships in the public and
private sectors that will benefit everyone
involved," said ATA President and Ghana's
Minister of Tourism Jake Otanka
Obetsebi-Lamptey.
The
congress aims to raise awareness of the
need to market Africa as a unified
continental travel destination, as well as
to build a positive image of the continent
for the future of Africa's tourism
development.
"The
Ethiopia congress is an important moment
for the association," said Edward Bergman,
ATA Executive Director. "The event has
attracted ATA's long-time friends and
supporters, as well as new members, who
bring a fresh energy to the 32-year old
association. We all need to work together
to spread positive news about the
continent in new travel and tourism
markets. But there is a lot of work to be
done and we need to increase the diversity
of our partners to make this
happen."
The
five-day program addresses topics such as
"Emerging Growth Markets for Africa
Tourism Entrepreneurs," which explores new
travel marketing opportunities for
education, volunteer and student travel,
the Asia market, cultural and faith-based
tourism, African Diaspora travel, and
accessible travel. Sessions on "Branding
Africa as a Continental Tourism
Destination," and "Connecting Africa, The
Sky is the Limit" will also take place.
The
program also includes roundtable
discussions for ministers, suppliers and
tour operators, networking events, a tour
of Addis Ababa and the capital city's
outskirts, an arts and crafts fair, and a
marketplace expo, hosted by the Ministry
of Tourism and Culture of Ethiopia. ATA's
new Youth Professionals Network, which was
established at ATA's 10th annual
ecotourism symposium in Nigeria in
November 2006, will also
meet.
On
the occasion of the congress, in
cooperation with MedShare International
and Miracle Corners of the World (MCW),
ATA will send a container of medical
supplies to a local hospital in the
Lalibela region of Ethiopia.
About
ATA
ATA
is the premier international travel
association promoting tourism to the
African continent and intra-Africa travel
and partnership since 1975. ATA members
include ministries of tourism, tourism
boards, airlines, hoteliers, travel
agents, tour operators, travel trade
media, public relations firms, NGOs,
individuals, and small-and medium-sized
businesses. For more information on ATA
and the Ethiopia Congress, visit ATA
on-line
at www.africatravelassociaton.org or call
Headquarters at
+1.212.447.1357.
List
of Sponsors
Ministry
of Culture & Tourism, Federal Republic
of Ethiopia
Ethiopian
Airlines, winner of Best Africa Airline in
2006 and the official congress
carrier
Ministry
of Tourism, Republic of
Ghana
Ministry
of Culture & Tourism, Federal Republic
of Nigeria
Sheraton-Addis
Ministry
of Natural Resources & Tourism,
Republic of Tanzania
Ministry
of Tourism, Environment & Natural
Resources, Republic of
Zambia
Media
Partners
Africa
Travel Magazine
www.afropop.org
ETURBO
News
The
Africa Channel
The
African Times
Travel
World News
www.ogosow.com
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
René Taylor
Company:
Africa Travel Association
Telephone:
+1-212-447-1357
info@africatravelassociation.org
www.africatravelassociation.org
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