TOP QUESTIONS

What gave birth to Africa Tourism Day?

The Africa Tourism Day was brought about by an identified need to have a day set aside to celebrate and focus on a sector that means so much to Africa. A time to collectively celebrate the diversity and rich cultures of our heritage. The tourism sector, as it obtains in other parts of the world translates to jobs, revenue, conservation efforts, cultural preservation, significant addition to GDP, investments, development, friendship, peace, education, understanding of other cultures, unity etc. There is also the need to focalize issues and challenges of the sector and to profer actionable solutions to them.

What is the significance of November 26 and why was it chosen to celebrate Africa Tourism Day?

The date was chosen to mark the occassion as a maiden edition in 2020 and to set the ball rolling for subsequent editions. From 2021, the same date can be used or an annual date can be chosen and fixed to celebrate and discuss tourism and its development in Africa.

Who initiated Africa Tourism Day and who are the organisers?

Africa Tourism Day was initiated by Desigo Tourism Development and Facility Management Company Limited which is led by Amb. Abigail Olagbaye a Nigerian Tourism Development Consultant.

The organisers comprise of Desigo Company in partnership with African Tourism Board and select high-networth delegation and professionals drawn from across African tourism private sector. The organisers have also invited participation from the Nigerian government and tourism private sector to be on the organising committee being the host country.

What is the objective of the event?

The objective of the Africa Tourism Day is for us as Africans to celebrate our cultural and natural tourism endowments which providence has bestowed on us. It is time to recognise and appreciate even more the value of our assets as Africans which the rest of the world travel hundreds and thousands of miles to see, to feel and to experience as tourists. Africa must now rise to chart it’s pathway for economic revival and sustainability especially in year that had been largely affected by a debilitating pandemic.

Is it an annual or biannual event.

It is an annual event which will be hosted rotationally amongst African countries or group of countries.

What are the steps to bid for the hosting of the event?

Interested bidders would reach out to the organisers via the contacts provided on the website or fill a feedback form or fill the form provided for interested prospective hosts.

When is the event taking place and where?

Africa Tourism Day 2020 will be held virtually on the 26th of Movemver 2020 however the organisers are currently engaging with the Nigerian Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to consider the possibility of having a pre-event reception on Tuesday, 24th October to host the diplomatic community and tourism industry stakeholders. The Africa Tourism Day will also feature a tree-planting exercise which commences on the 1st of November and culminates on the 24th of November 2020 to commemorate the occassion. This tree- planting exercise will be rounded off in a low-key pre- event tree-planting ceremony on the morning of November 24th.

What are modalities for participating in the tree- planting exercise?

Just get a seed, and with a smile go ahead plant a tree within the premises of your office, school or home or wherever that serves as your private outdoor space, record the exercise in a 1 minute video. In the video feel free to express your solidarity wishes for a Happy Africa Tourism Day 2020! Post on social media, tag the event handles on twitter @Aftourismday and on facebook  @ Africa tourism day with the hastag #Aftourismday, #Aftourismday2020  and #Pandemic2Prosperity4Posterity. The videos with most likes will be uploaded to and featured on the event website till the next edition of the event.
You may also wish to submit directly to the event email at [email protected].

ADDITIONAL INFO

Why are you having a tree planting exercise to commemorate the Africa Tourism Day 2020?

We are in the UN decade of action and in the race for the achievements of the 17 SDGs, our planet is currently under threat of climate change hence it is an emergency that must be met with a decisive will and urgent action. We need to plant trees to reverse the effects of the depletion of the ozone layer caused by Gas emissions which puts us all at a threat and risk of an endangered planet.
Beyond planting of trees we must now concert efforts more than ever before to ensure the tourism industry in Africa evolves into a circular economy with an effective reduce, recycle and reuse system and an efficient waste management that works. We must evolve as an industry into such that embraces sustainability and climate friendly travel. We must, more than ever before, prioritized sanitation, hygiene, safety and security, we must reduce our footprints at destinations as tourists that is to minimise the impact of footfalls at destinations. We should urgently eliminate plastics as they pose a huge threat and damage to our environment and to life under water. We must as tourists, continue to respect local cultures and support local crafts at host communities. This way perhaps, Africa can advance towards prosperity by having building a tourism industry that is  economically viable, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable.

Who are the participants for the tree planting exercise?

It is open to every African. Schools , offices, embassies, homes, anyone anywhere and everyone everywhere can and should join in the exercise. Out of 1.3 billion Africans we are targeting a minimum number of 100 million new trees to be planted to make Africa greener. Our planet needs it! It is our responsibility!

Is there any significance of the Africa Tourism Day 2020 event in view of the upcoming launch of the AfCFTA in January 2021.

There is a huge significance of having this celebrations and discussions at this time preceding the Launch of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area in January 2021.
As the AfCFTA sets off to herald a historical movement of trade and capital, skills, expertise, equipment etc., across the continent we must examine the roles and impact of this on tourism. It is a given that as trade volume rises across the continent tourism will also increase. Is this a threat an opportunity from a sustainability perspective? Can the advent of the AfCFTA facilitate or impede tourism growth? Indeed both trade and tourism should be complimentary even as there is a greater advocacy for intra regional travel and for domestic tourism in Africa.

What is the scope of the Africa Tourism Day 2020 event and does it include Africans in Diaspora?

Africa Tourism Day 2020 event is virtual hence open to participation from all 5 regions of the continent and the rest of the world including the diaspora which is regarded as the 6th region of Africa.

What is the destination photo submissions about?

The photo submissions are a part of the celebrations for Africa Tourism Day 2020. Africa is filled with mesmerising landscapes, captivating wildlife, rich and diverse cultures and a vibrant and energetic billion-plus people. Hence the photo submissions provides the opportunity to highlight and showcase these attractions.The best photos will recieve recognitions and will be acknowledged and they will feature on the event website till the next edition.

When can interested participants start submitting photos?

The dates will be announced and confirmed on all event social media handles.

Can donations be made to support the initiative?

Yes. There is a donations feature on the website which has been enabled to recieve various currencies e.g US Dollars, Euros, British Pounds, Naira etc.

2021 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How successful was the inaugural Africa Tourism Day 2020?

The Africa Tourism Day 2020 was a remarkable success. The theme was – Pandemic to Prosperity for Posterity. We had 21 speakers from 11 countries, participation from 79 countries and the event was viewed online a 100,000 times over. Our Tree planting exercise was headlined by our Ambassador, Wanjiku Githae, a 10 year old Kenyan environmentalist and proprietor of Children with Nature. We also had a photo contest which was won by Stephen Singadu from Livingstone, Zambia and a poll for the Most Fascinating Destination in Africa won by Tanzania.

What is the date for Africa Tourism Day 2021?

This year’s Africa Tourism Day is the second edition and scheduled to hold on the 25th – 27th of November 2021.

What is the theme of Africa Tourism Day 2021?

The theme is Intersection of Tourism Trade and Sustainability, Imperatives for Africa During and Post Covid 19 Era.

Who are the patrons of Africa Tourism Day?

Patrons include Dr. Taleb Rifai, the Secretary General of World Tourism Forum Institute and former Secretary General of United Nations World Tourism Organisation UNWTO, former minister of tourism Egypt Hon. Hisham Zazzou, minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Tanzania Dr. Damas Ndumbaro, minister of Tourism Jamaica, Dr. Edmund Bartlette , former minister of Tourism Seychelles Mr. Alain St Ange etc.

Who are the partners of Africa Tourism Day 2021?

Desigo Tourism Development and Facility Management Company Limited is collaborating with the Lagos State Government through the ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism and African Tourism Board headquatered in Eswatini, Southern Africa. We also have partnership with Africa Travel Commission ATC, AfriCanada Business Exchange etc. The initiative is also endorsed by the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria FTAN, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation NTDC etc.

Why is this year's edition split into 3 days and what is on the programme for those days?

Africa Tourism Day is 26th November annually but we realised that a few hours a day were grossly inadequate to dissect issues, topics and discussions around the theme hence we decided to split into 3 days. Day 1 will feature opening of the exhibition, training and the opening ceremony. Day 2 presents an all day conference sessions, exhibition, training and a Glamour Night in the evening known as Food and Fashion Fusion for Earth.
Day 3 will feature last day of the exhibition, training, city tour and a closing Gala and Awards in the evening.

What is the objective of this year's theme?

What we are trying to achieve with this year’s theme- Intersection of Tourism, Trade and Sustainability, Imperatives for Africa During and Post Covid 19 Era is to begin discussion on the recently launched AfCFTA which tranforms Africa into the largest trading bloc globally with a market capitalisation of 1.3 trillion dollars. How can tourism leverage on this great potential yet keeping sustainability, environmental conservation and climate change ambition targets at the centre. Trade and tourism should have a symbiotic and complimentary relationship. We therefore need a system that works, not to the detriment of the planet Earth but fostering climate ambitions and ensuring that these ambitions are transformed into climate actions. We need to constantly work to actualise the Paris Climate agreements to halve global emissions to 1.5 degrees and to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 through sustainable value chains, destination stewardship, environmental conservation, renewable energy resources, waste management, sustainability etc.