UN Tourism Commission for Africa Meets to Promote Social Impact, Innovation and Youth Empowerment

The UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) organisers gathered tourism leaders, government officials, and stakeholders from the creative sector to shape a future where tourism fosters sustainable, inclusive development across the continent. Over 300 delegates attended, including 18 Ministers of Tourism, highlighting strong support for UN Tourism’s vision and initiatives in the region.

Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili opened the 68^th session with a call to action centred on partnership and progress. Reflecting on his first visit to Abuja in 2018, he stated that “progress is built on partnership and Africa’s story is one of resilience and renewal.” He driven by streamlined protocols, digital innovation, andpraised the continent’s rapid recovery in tourism,  targeted skill development, reaffirming commitment to the ‘Agenda for Africa: Tourism for Inclusive Growth’.

Celebrating Shared Progress
During the event in Abuja, UN Tourism’s African Member States received a comprehensive update on the progress made towards shared goals since the last meeting. Notable achievements include:

• The launch of the Thematic Office on Innovation for Africa, in collaboration with Morocco, aimed at boosting investment, capacity-building, and digital transformation within tourism.
• A renewed focus on creative industries such as music, film, fashion, and cuisine, seen as key drivers of culture-led tourism, visitor engagement, and local livelihoods.
• Advances in education and youth empowerment, with new courses, the opening of academies in Zambia and Zimbabwe, and extensive training and entrepreneurship programmes.

Pololikashvili emphasised that “tourism can be a ladder out of poverty and a platform for leadership,” urging increased investment in digital literacy, vocational training, and youth entrepreneurship, especially for women and marginalised communities.

Key Roles for African Member States
During the gathering in Abuja, African Member States fulfilled their statutory duties through elections, which will shape UN Tourism’s work in the coming years:

• Angola, Kenya, Seychelles, Zambia, and Zimbabwe will serve on the UN Tourism Executive Council (2025–2029).
• Nigeria and Zimbabwe will act as Vice-Presidents of the UN Tourism General Assembly (2025).
• Zambia will chair the Regional Commission for Africa (2025–2027), with Angola and Nigeria serving as Vice-Chairs.

Looking ahead, Seychelles will host the 69^th Meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa (date to be confirmed), while Cabo Verde will welcome the official celebrations for World Tourism Day 2027.

Innovation to Drive Africa’s Tourism Future
Discussions throughout the week underlined a shared vision: Africa-led tourism innovation rooted in cultural identity. Delegates highlighted the importance of technology and Artificial Intelligence, which must prioritise people by expanding market access, simplifying travel, and upholding ethical standards.

In parallel with the 68^th CAF meeting, UN Tourism organised a specialised workshop on AI and Innovation in Tourism and Creative Industries for local officials. The focus was on integrating AI tools and innovation into tourism development, fostering education and entrepreneurship, and strengthening public-private partnerships.