Chapter Notes ATA MAJOR EVENTS SINCE 1976 ATA WORLD CONGRESS 1976 - Nairobi, Kenya 1977 - Abidjan, Ivory Coast 1978 - Sousse/Monastir, Tunisia 1979 - Tangier, Morocco 1980 - Libreville, Gabon 1981 - Lusaka, Zambia 1982 - Lome, Togo 1983 - Cairo, Egypt 1984 - Banjul, The Gambia 1985 - Nairobi, Kenya 1986 - Atlanta, Georgia, USA 1987 - Douala, Cameroon 1988 - Harare, Zimbabwe 1989 - New York, NY, USA 1990 - Casablanca, Morocco 1991 - Cairo, Egypt 1992 - Cote d'Ivoire 1993 - Lusaka, Zambia 1994 - Accra, Ghana 1995 - Nairobi, Kenya 1996 - Windhoek, Namibia 1997 - Cotonou, Benin 1998 - Arusha, Tanzania 1999 - Accra, Ghana 2000 - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2001 - Cape Town, South Africa 2002- Conakry, Guinée 2003 - Lusaka and Livingstone, Zambia 2004 - Douala, Cameroon 2005 - Nairobi, Kenya 2006 - Accra, Ghana 2007 - Addis Ababa,Ethiopia, ATA ECOTOURISM SYMPOSIUM- 1992 - Saly / Dakar, Senegal 1994 - South Africa 1996 - Marrakech, Morocco 2000 - Abuja, Nigeria 2001- Yaounde, Cameroon 2002 - Fez, Morocco 2003 - Zanzibar, Tanzania - 2004 - Kampala, Uganda 2005: Luanda, Angola 2006 - Calabar, Nigeria ATA - IIPT AFRICA CONFERENCE Peace Through Tourism 2001 - Nelspruit, South Africa 2003 - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 2005 - Lusaka, Zambia 2007 - Kampala, Uganda ATA Partners in Tourism Promotion ATA Partners in Tourism Promotion Adventures in Travel TheTradeShow,

Africa Travel Association, Sowing Tourism Seeds in Addis Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 1, 2006- The Africa Travel Association (ATA) hosted an information reception honoring Tourism Minister, His Excellency, Ambassador Mohemed Dirir and State Tourism Minister, Honorable Minister Tadelesh Delecho, recognizing their vision and commitment to strengthening Ethiopian Tourism as a "National Product", for the world to enjoy. The ATA Information Reception was held at Nini Café, Opposite Imperial Hotel, and the organizer of the reception was Robert Alsbrooks, of USA, ATA's newly appointed Executive Programs Director. Alsbrooks works closely with Executive Director, Edward J. Bergman, also recently appointed to lead the association. Alsbrooks focus is building grassroots relationships through membership recruitment and chapter development. Both Alsbrooks and Bergman received their appointments at the 31st Annual Congress in Accra, Ghana, May 2006. Alsbrooks, together with his colleague Edward Bergman, have also developed entrepreneurial community development programs around Africa that have benefited thousands of people. "Ethiopia has a great person leading tourism development in the country, His Excellency, Ambassador Mohemed Dirir. He is a very wise and professional man, and most of all, he is down to Earth. I remember the first time I met him at his office, he embrace me with a traditional Ethiopian greeting and said, "Welcome Home"! After our meeting, the Ambassador invited me to have lunch at his home with his family; words can not describe how great of a feeling his hospitality left me with" said as he address a room full of travel professionals. Alsbrooks went on to say, "As for Honorable Minister Tadelech, whom I was introduced to by Mr. Habtamu, produces results with her firm but intuitive motherly touch. She has welcomed me in Ethiopia, as a mother welcomes a son. I remain excited about Ethiopia and all it has to offer. It is definitely a country that causes one to smile, because of her beautiful people and scenery that are smiling back at you. The message that Alsbrooks gave to the tourism professionals present at the reception was about the importance of them working together with ATA to promote Ethiopia as one of Africa's most amazing destinations. "Now is the time to make great things happen in Ethiopia through our professions in Travel and Tourism Industry", Alsbrooks poetically announced to the attendees. He went on to state, "His Excellency Ambassador Dirir, has made the decision to host the 32nd Annual ATA Congress in Ethiopia, in May 2007. I will be working closely with Honorable Minister Tadelech Delecho to see that this Congress is a stellar event." About ATA The Africa Travel Association (ATA) is the premier international travel industry association, promoting tourism to the African continent and intra-Africa travel and partnership since 1975.