Ivorian football legend, Didier Drogba, will be the keynote speaker at the 23rd World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Kigali, scheduled from November 1 to 3. Drogba is regarded as one of the greatest African football players in history, and all-time top scorer and former captain of the Ivory Coast national football team. ALSO READ: Football legends in Rwanda According to the organisers, he will share his experience of growing up in the West African country, and his continued fight for social progress. Under the theme “Building Bridges to a Sustainable Future,” the 23rd WTTC Global Summit will focus on the value of the travel and tourism sector, not only to the global economy, but to the planet and communities around the world. ALSO READ: Global travel tourism boss talks preps ahead of summit in Kigali During the summit, which will take place at Kigali Convention Centre, industry leaders and senior government officials from around the world will gather to continue aligning efforts to support the sector’s recovery and address the challenges the future poses to ensure a safer, more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable sector. According to the organisers, three heads of state and a vice president will take centre stage at the summit. ALSO READ: Rwanda scoops Global Tourism Leadership Award Other keynote speakers include Justin Urquhart-Stewart, a global economist and renowned business commentator; David P. Pekoske, Administrator of the United States Transport Security Administration; and Juliet Slot, Chief Commercial Officer at Arsenal Football Club. Francis Gatare, the CEO of the Rwanda Development Board and Yvonne Makolo, the CEO of Rwandair and Chair of the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), are also among the “notable” speakers. Speakers from WTTC include Arnold Donald, WTTC Chair; Greg O’Hara, Founder and Managing Partner Certares; Gloria Fluxa, Vice Chairman and Chief Sustainability Officer, Iberostar; Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman of Heritage Group and co-chair of Abercrombie and Kent, Julie Shainock, Global Managing Director for Travel, Transport Logistics and Hospitality, Microsoft and Matthew Upchurch, President & CEO of Virtuoso. “We are delighted to announce that such heavyweight and influential figures will be joining us in Kigali next week,” said Julia Simpson, the President and CEO of WTTC. “This is our first summit on the African continent. Rwanda's dedication to the travel andtourism sector's resurgence after challenging times is commendable. The nation's rapid growth trajectory positions it as an upcoming tourism hotspot.” Government dignitaries, including South Africa's Tourism Minister, Patricia de Lille; Tanzania's Minister of Natural Resource and Tourism, Angellah Jasmine Mbelwa Kairuki; and Ukraine's Tourism Development Chairperson, Mariana Oleskiv, will also grace the occasion.
