Kigali to host over 1000 participants in WTTC's Africa debut

At least 1200 participants court in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, this week as the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) holds its first Global Summit in Africa, where sector leaders are expected to recognize the sector’s growth across the continent in recent years and at the same time analyze its challenges. Under the theme Building bridges to a sustainable future, the 23rd WTTC Global Summit will unfold on November 1 through 3. Co-organized by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the WTTC is the most influential annual summit on the travel and tourism calendar bringing together thousands of industry leaders, experts, and key government representatives to continue to align efforts to support the growth of the sector and move towards a safer, more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future. The three-day summit is expected to draw various sessions on resilience and sustainable growth, the growing impact of AI, and understanding new and emerging markets, as well as cover the key challenges and opportunities facing the sector. ALSO READ: Global travel tourism preparations ahead of summit in Kigali “This Global Summit is a rallying cry for leaders, innovators, and change-makers from all corners of the globe to come together and craft a new vision for the sector,” said WTTC president and CEO Julia Simpson. She added; It's an unparalleled opportunity to be at the forefront of shaping a sector that is not only resilient but is also committed to the principles of sustainability and inclusivity.” For Rwanda, Simpson pointed out, the summit is an opportune moment to showcase the role of sustainable tourism in its transformation, at the same time showcasing the power of sustainable tourism to protect biodiversity and create thriving communities. “Rwanda is the perfect venue for our Global Summit, as the sector embarks on a significant new chapter. Africa has the world’s youngest population and by 2033, $1 in every $13 created in Africa, will come from Travel and Tourism and 1 in 17 jobs will be in the sector. This demonstrates the huge potential the continent’s sector has for new jobs and new economic growth for young people across Africa.” Rwanda’s projections The latest economic impact study from the world tourism body reveals a projection for the next ten years for the travel and tourism sector in Africa. By 2033, the WTTC predicts that the sector will contribute more than $430 billion to the African economy and that jobs in the sector will grow significantly, reaching more than 110 million people in total. In Rwanda, the WTTC projects that by 2033 the travel and tourism sector will contribute more than $2.1 billion to the national economy and generate almost 568,000 jobs, citing the country’s commitment to sustainable tourism, diversifying the experiences it offers and promoting knowledge of its rich biodiversity, culture, heritage and art. At the same time, the Summit comes at a time when Rwanda aims to double its tourism revenue from $445 million raked in during 2022 to more than $800 million under its seven-year National Transformation Strategy. The WTTC Global Summit 2023 aims to be the catalyst for this change, offering a platform where ideas meet opportunities, and where the future of travel and tourism is redefined, organizers said. Francis Gatare, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, said in an earlier interview; We are proud to host the first WTTC Global Summit in Africa. Although this important meeting will take place in Rwanda, it is for the entire continent.” Gatare added; “Africa has some of the world’s most spectacular tourism properties and experiences, and the sector plays a significant role in the continent's continued economic development by creating millions of jobs.” The WTTC Global Summit, he asserted, will provide a great platform to build bridges across the tourism and travel ecosystem and co-design a sustainable future for the sector to reach its full potential. WTTC’s 2022 Summit ran under the theme “Travel for a Better Future” and focused on the value of the sector, not only to the global economy, but to the planet and communities around the world. Its speakers’ line–up included former UK Prime Minister Theresa May, former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, and actor, filmmaker, and Golden Globe winner, Edward Norton, among others. The wider picture The global tourism industry is expected to create almost 110 million jobs worldwide within 10 years, according to a report issued by the WTTC in 2023. The outlook, also known as the WTTC’s Economic Impact Report (EIR) says the travel and tourism sector will be a driving force of the global economic recovery from the two-year pandemic. The report forecasts that the travel and tourism sector's GDP will grow at an average rate of 5.1 percent annually between 2023 and 2033, outstripping the growth rate for the global economy, to reach $15.5 trillion equivalent to 11.6 percent of the total global economy.

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Kigali to host over 1000 participants in WTTC's Africa debut