w w w . v o y a g e s a f r i q . c o m ISSUE 015 | April 2021 Edition Travel and Tourism Magazine EXPLORING TOURISM’S BEST KEPT SECRET IN RWANDA: the land of a thousand hills UNWTO Impressed with Morocco’s Personality Profile Preparations for General Assembly - Caroline Abel ISSN 2550-3405 Escape. © Michel Denousse www.gondwana-collection.com [email protected] NAMIBIA @VoyagesAfriq @VoyagesAfriq IN THIS ISSUE African Group at UNESCO courts support 39 for African World Heritage Fund 2021 and the 4th Africa Business and MICE Masterclass birth Action UNWTO Impressed with 40 Group for Africa Meetings Morocco’s preparations for 24th General Assembly 4 Celebrating Sustainability Dear Readers, 44 Champions Let me use this opportunity to ISSUE 015 | April 2021 Edition Travel and Tourism Magazine wish you a Happy New Year! EDITORIAL TEAM It’s indeed been a tough 12 Managing Editor months with difficult times on Exploring Tourism’s Best Kojo Bentum-Williams the back of the enormous effects Kept Secret In Rwanda: Zurab Pololikashvili receives Consulting Editor of the coronavirus virus on the The Land of a Thousand Ben Ohene-Ayeh overwhelming 2nd tandate to 20 tourism sector. Hills Ethiopian Airlines Joins Lead UNWTO For Four More Content Editor The new variant of the virus has 7 African Union to Launch Samuel Obeng Appah Years Test and Vaccine Passport further pummelled the sector, 47 Editor at Large and Africa was not spared Ghana’s Ambassador to Ridwan Ibrahim Asante the devastating impacts. The AviaDev Africa 2021 goes Spain presents Credentials Sustainability Editor reintroduction of restrictions virtual 10 to UNWTO Scribe Mafalda Borea inadvertently eroded the gains made to restart the tourism 49 Contributing Writers UNWTO welcomes EU Michael Sudarkasa sector during the last quarter of 2020. support and urges Europe Franck Olivier Kra Jason Amoo Once again, Africa’s management of the pandemic is an enviable one. A to lead decent level of stability has been seen across the region and has seen 12 Ghana targets $5 billion Marian Ansah some resemblance of confidence coming back. tourism revenue by 2022 Yasmine Fofana Emmanuella Nana Akua Asare This issue which is our first one for the year 2021 is filled with significant 32 Administration/Marketing updates and activities from the tourism sector in the first quarter. It gives Jennifer Nyavor a vivid account of how destinations in Africa are managing the situation Glaou Eddie Fortune Kigali Arena to host amidst the important push for intra-Africa travels across board. Inaugural Basketball Symphorien Kouabile Marriott International Michel Kouassi Africa League Appoints Anthony Capuano The cover feature of the 15th issue has the spotlight on Rwanda. The 34 Creative Lead Land of a Thousand Hills continues to use tourism as a force for good and as New CEO And Stephanie 49 Nana Yaw Ofosuhene readers will be thrilled by the impressive developments in the East African Linnartz as President Photo Credit country. “PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS” UNWTO As has been a feature of VoyagesAfriq, the personality profile column is critical to the long-term Gilbert Amankwah Ampofo shines light on Ms. Caroline Abel, the Governor of the Central Bank of Success of Hotels- Tim Rwanda Development Board 56 Prince Charles Affum Seychelles. Ms Abel discusses how the island’s central bank is balancing Cordon writes Reeves the management of the economy and helping to save the tourism sector. Shane The indefatigable personality takes us on a tour of her life. Vanessa Lucas-STB Personality Profile Alex Tackie A visit by the Ghanaian trade and tourism delegation to Rwanda was a DUSHIME Gedeon Reeves major step towards cooperation by African countries to give meaning to - Ms Caroline Abel Siandou Fofana retained ASHIMWE Constantin intra-Africa travels. as Tourism Minister 16 Publisher 38 to lead Sublime Cote The silent talk of the tourism effects on the AfCFTA is worrying and gives d’Ivoire agenda Voyages Afriq credence to the perennial issues of tourism neglect by the highest office How visitor attractions of the continent. This has inspired us to introduce the AfCFTA Tourism Tour of African Gastronomy Media Ltd. can respond to guests’ Talk Series conversations with astute business executive Michael Sudarkasa as writer. 19 needs during covid-19 59 Africa's leading Travel and Toursim Magazine iv VOYAGESAFRIQ VOYAGESAFRIQ 1 @VoyagesAfriq Your Most Credible Travel and Tourism News Source w w w . v o y a g e s a f r i q . c o m ISSUE 014 | November 2020 Edition Travel and Tourism Magazine Explore Africa again from Namibia, the land of Endless Horizons UNWTO’s first mission to Africa A Good Year for since onset of Covid-19 Kelly Khumalo ISSN 2550-3405 His maiden piece in the magazine gives an overview of what tourism recovery. Mr Pololikashvili has stated strongly that, we may be missing by not highlighting the importance of it is when countries are engaging along with international the tourism and travel industry. partners that we can be able to restart tourism. We also welcome a new member to our editorial team, The Kingdom of Morocco’s preparations for the 24th Mafalda Borea who will be taking charge of our sustainable UNWTO General Assembly has been praised by the UN tourism section. She is the CEO of Sustainable First. Tourism Organization after a technical visit by the team We celebrate our continent's heroes already leading by from Madrid. The Kingdom’s Minister in an interview with example and creating a positive impact in the industry in VoyagesAfriq reiterated their commitment to hosting a our new feature "Celebrating Sustainability Champions". world-class event. Judy Kepher Gona is our first guest! This edition also has dedicated a page for the promotion The World Tourism Organization continues to lead a sector of Africa’s gastronomy which was brought to the spotlight battered severely by Covid-19 to restart in a safe and by the launch of the Tour of the African Gastronomy by responsible way. Its Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili UNWTO. who received an overwhelming endorsement by members of the Executive Council to lead the Madrid-based UN This issue is filled with the latest information making waves Get Interactive & Connect with us on #VoyagesAfriq Organization for another 4-year term is expected to in the tourism sector and we hope patrons will enjoy the read. harmonise travel and tourism protocols to accelerate WWW.VOyagesafriq.com Copyright subsists in all published in this magazine. Any reproduction or adaptation, in whole or in part, without written permission of the publishers is strictly prohibited and is an act of copyright infringement which may in certain circumstances, constitute a criminal offence. The paper used for this production is a recyclable and renewable product. It has been produced using wood sourced from sustainably managed forests and elemental or total chlorine free bleached pulp. Correspondence: Voyages Afriq Travel Magazine Office Location Accra Tourist Information Centre Off Liberation Road, Accra – Ghana Ghana Office line: +233 30 397 2764 [email protected] France Office VoyagesAfriq VoyagesAfriq 6 Impasse Robert Labarre 49300 Cholet - France VoyagesAfriq VoyagesAfriq +33 753 082 350 Copyright NMC No. e : [email protected] Voyages Afriq Media Ltd. NMC/C.I39/17/3036. UK Office line: +44 744 849 4933 w : www. voyagesafriq.com Never miss travel updates on VA Tourism Podcast & Tourism News Wrap. We go beyond reporting to connect the Tourism Sector. 2 VOYAGESAFRIQ UNWTO FILES @VoyagesAfriq @VoyagesAfriq UNWTO FILES UNWTO Technical Visit to Morocco in Pictures • UNWTO Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili • The Wali of the Marrakech Safi Karim Kassi-Lahlou • Morocco’s Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, Air Transport, and Social Economy Nadia Fettah Alaoui and the • Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Morocco’s Minister of Tourism, UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili display copies of the agreement signed during the visit • The Visiting UNWTO Team being toured around the YVES Museum Handicrafts, Air Transport, and Social Economy UNWTO Impressed with Morocco’s preparations for 24TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Kingdom of Morocco met to advance the organization of the 24th UNWTO General Assembly in October 2021. It is the first global high-level United Nations event to be held since the beginning of the pandemic. Led by the Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, a the UNWTO Secretary-General in Rabat highlighting the • Zurab Pololikashvili and the Prime Minister of Morocco Saad-Eddine delegation from UNWTO has concluded an official visit to importance of the celebration and the high-level support El Othmani in an elbow shake • Zhanna Yakovleva, UNWTO’s Chief of Cabinet Morocco to discuss the programme, calendar and facilities of the host country. The delegation was also received by to be prepared for this statutory meeting that will focus the Governor of Marrakesh-Safi region, Karim Kassi Lahlou, on Education and Youth, Rural Development and Digital and other local authorities and representatives of the Innovation. private sector of the area that will be strongly involved in the preparations for the meeting. The Minister of Tourism of Morocco, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, and her team accompanied the delegation during the Secretary-General Pololikashvili thanked the Prime three-day visit and expressed their commitment to Minister and his government for their “hard work” to ensure organizing an “historic” General Assembly to showcase the that the