Faouzou Dème statement for World Tourism Day 2021
Mr. Juergen Chairman of the World Travel Network
Mr. Taleb Rifaï Former Secretary-General of the UNWTO President of the World Institute for Research and Development of Tourism, guest of honor at the conference,
Mr. Alain St Ange Former Minister of Tourism of Seychelles and President of ATB,
Mr. Cuthert Ncube Executive Chairman of ATB,
Dear fellow Ambassadors,
Dear partners and national tourism administrations,
Dear professionals, actors of the value chain.
Good evening,
It is with renewed pleasure that I appear before you with respect and humility for the rules of benevolence.
I have my different hats over my shoulder; Senior Tourism Expert, African Tourism Ambassador, Technical Advisor, Minister of Tourism and Air Transport of Senegal. Draped with my distinction, of Knight of the National Order of Merit, of Senegal, and of my World Tourism Hero medal, to celebrate JMT with you.
Dear Ambassadors,
We are here, to share a message of hope, confidence, and encouragement with the world of tourism; which once again has shown itself to be very resilient in the face of one of the greatest disasters in world tourism.
I would also like to tell you that I am a witness to a lot of situations, with my 33 years of career, and having gone through, and practiced, almost all the professions of tourism.
Tonight, in front of you, I am proud to promote the destination Senegal, on the occasion of the second session of the conference, of ATB Ambassadors as a prelude to World Tourism Day. This promotion through the medal of the World Tourism Hero, which was awarded to me, by the World Travel Network, and through, my title of African Tourism Ambassador, awarded, by the African Tourism Board. Be thanked. Senegal thus honored, is grateful to you.
The celebration, of World Tourism Day, 2021, is a platform that allows us to address the world of tourism, to pay tribute to actors around the world, especially students, and workers, for hope and They have confidence in the tourism sector, where we have found that President Macky Sall of Senegal has done better than his predecessors, and his counterparts, in the West African sub-region, in terms of public partnership policy private.
It is also an opportunity for me to come back to the major challenges of tourism on our continent.
As we all see, the tourism sector is the most dynamic, the most transversal, and the most important of all the economies of the world. In a nutshell: Tourism is the world’s largest economy, due to its contribution to GDP, the trade balance, and many other economic indicators.
Dear Ambassadors,
My message for the world, and for Africa, could be a synthesis, of all my research, conferences, and contributions, articulated around a cry from the heart, to alert on the importance, to create, and to build tourism from home; which we have the obligation to market under a benchmark brand, on the African continent, so as to produce outgoing tourism access to African inter-state tourism, and based on the rules for the growth of inclusive tourism.
In front of you dear Ambassadors, and with all of us together, let us appeal to our policies so that tourism policies can be harmonized, under a directive from the African Union. The single visa, or the single passport, reinforces peace and security, a guarantee of free movement of goods and people.
Little or nothing has been done, it must be recognized for the integration, especially in terms of harmonized legislation, to protect our tourism sector already extroverted, without support, up to the ambitions of governments, to make Africa , a continent emitting tourists in its own geographical space.
Studies have established that the African tourism market can become an important and very profitable market, if it benefits from high-level institutional support, with the tools and mechanisms, financing adapted to its economic model, coupled with a private/private partnership with actors from the same continent.
The branding of Africa is irreversible, inevitable, and strategic. And this branding will only have meaning if it is capable of contributing significantly to the significant increase in the weight of the African continent in global tourism, and in the social transformation of the businesses and populations concerned.
When I spoke about e-tourism in 2000, my objective was to prepare the structural transformation of the governance of the sector, to provide Africa via Senegal with an essential platform for digital tourism, which would transform our reservation system, sale, promotion of our destinations and direct payment.
This would make our destinations more accessible, less expensive, and just a click away, making Africa a new and more attractive tourist destination in the world.
Technological innovation and digital marketing, which have become new drivers of tourism governance, had alerted us, but in vain no action was taken either by the administrative authorities or by the private sector.
Today, World Tourism Day, it is a new commitment that we must make here and now, for a change of approach and analysis, which are necessary to build, domestic tourism, and interstate tourism, pan African which would protect our companies and our workers from all terrorist attacks, ecological health, climate, etc.
Dear Ambassadors, dear actors,
We all know that the key issues of climate change, and its adverse effects on the environment, and tourism, are often not decided by tourism ministers, but by heads of state who give guidance, to ministers on international issues. Should we not directly address the heads of state, so that our concerns can be heard in high places.
We also know that climate change is a hot topic, to which we must underline the urgency and importance, of defining, at the level of the entire tourism sector, an approach, actions, and a message that be clear, and consistent.
The actions that we should take for the climate, for the environment, and for tourism, should not be exclusively political questions, but a civic, eco-responsible commitment, at the forefront of which would also by tourists.
We tourism actors must form a block in order to encourage organizations from all over the world of tourism to become sentinels, to publicly show our support, and our interest in a clean environment, in particular, the safeguard of biodiversity, the protection of fauna, and flora.
climate action is everyone’s business. We, a tourism actors, must be at the forefront, to show our determination to improve and encourage sustainable tourism, as well as good practices in areas where tourism is produced; and or the attractiveness of the different tourist poles, should be the subject of a separate environmental, socio-economic analysis, to then unite the points of convergence, and of complementarity, to design cross-linked tourist products, giving meaning and experience unique to the traveler, which would be complemented by a second stay to build customer loyalty.
The establishment of the slavery route, the rehabilitation of our heritage, historical, cultural, religious, and its colonial infrastructures, which speak to us; but also remind us of our history, our past, are more than necessary to enhance.
To come back to the theme: “Tourism and inclusive growth” of World Day 2021, I want to emphasize with strength and determination, this two-speed tourism which coexists, and leaves Africa no chance to develop. , since the African continent is far, very far behind the world’s leading destinations. While our tourism offers more change of scenery, openness, and exoticism, and discovery, so as not to be in the pay of the international tourism lobby.
The celebration this year by Côte d’Ivoire, the host country, should highlight a number of commitments, and awareness.
– By the will of Africans, to free themselves from the dicta, and from the policy of the UNWTO, which does not treat all member countries with the same attention and the expected diligence.
– The capacity of tourism, to promote the inclusive development of Africa, which is a weapon for our development.
– Have the adoption of appropriate legislation, to give shape to strong alliances, and code-sharing, to boost intra-regional air transport in our own spaces, which would promote the emergence of a new domestic tourism with regional airports.
– The role of tourism in promoting respect for the environment, and the business opportunities it offers, to millions of people in Africa.
– It’s potential to create jobs for all, and its role as a lever for economic growth and social stability.
To do this, the sector needs:
– Workers in the tourism sector throughout the value chain.
– Training centers and approved trainers.
– Well-informed local populations, for involvement throughout the tourist journey.
– Travelers who participate in respect for values and cultures, and carry out activities, in accordance with respect for the environment, and local practices, in order to ensure the growth of healthy, quality tourism, profitable to populations , businesses, and the country.
And finally, a strong, organized, united, credible, hardworking, solvent, alert and serious private sector.
Dear Ambassadors, I call on ATB, the African Tourism Board, and the WTN World Travel Network, to continue their efforts and their alerts, in order to develop strategies, and medium-term approaches, in the following axes:
– The pursuit of forward-looking thinking, on the environment constantly, to suggest and support its members to undertake a marketing approach focused on digital with dynamic content based on NTICS, and focus on performance and results.
– To make improving the attractiveness of destinations a priority and an essential pillar of promotion, which puts the customer at the heart of concerns, if not the only concern. To this, we must add safety and security controls to guarantee a quality of service, which respects standards and health provisions.
– Support the competitiveness of SMEs and SMIs, through healthy and fair competition, transparency in the granting of authorizations and approvals, as well as access to financing.
– To redefine the product in its design, taking into account changes in accommodation methods, in order to take into account significant changes, and the needs expressed by travelers, and the requirements of local tourism.
– To make a solemn commitment to the actors, for technical assistance, allowing them to build a benchmark local tourism inexpensively.
Dear friends of tourism, stakeholders, decision-makers, investors, authorities, here is the message in a few lines. Our message on behalf of the ambassadors.
This message is launched with proposals for axes, a well-thought-out and well-developed strategy, for the marketing of the African tourist offer, within a framework of complementarity, partnership, and synergies; in order to promote African tourism, as a single destination, with multiple offers, and different experiences.
Let’s make these words our raison d’être: Africa does not need the world, rather the world needs Africa.
Together, and united, we will win.
I have my different hats over my shoulder; Senior Tourism Expert, African Tourism Ambassador, Technical Advisor, Minister of Tourism and Air Transport of Senegal. Draped with my distinction, of Knight of the National Order of Merit, of Senegal, and of my World Tourism Hero medal, to celebrate JMT with you.
Dear Ambassadors,
We are here, to share a message of hope, confidence, and encouragement with the world of tourism; which once again has shown itself to be very resilient in the face of one of the greatest disasters in world tourism.
I would also like to tell you that I am a witness to a lot of situations, with my 33 years of career, and having gone through, and practiced, almost all the professions of tourism.
Tonight, in front of you, I am proud to promote the destination Senegal, on the occasion of the second session of the conference, of ATB Ambassadors as a prelude to World Tourism Day. This promotion through the medal of the World Tourism Hero, which was awarded to me, by the World Travel Network, and through, my title of African Tourism Ambassador, awarded, by the African Tourism Board. Be thanked. Senegal thus honored, is grateful to you.
The celebration, of World Tourism Day, 2021, is a platform that allows us to address the world of tourism, to pay tribute to actors around the world, especially students, and workers, for hope and They have confidence in the tourism sector, where we have found that President Macky Sall of Senegal has done better than his predecessors, and his counterparts, in the West African sub-region, in terms of public partnership policy private.
It is also an opportunity for me to come back to the major challenges of tourism on our continent.
As we all see, the tourism sector is the most dynamic, the most transversal, and the most important of all the economies of the world. In a nutshell: Tourism is the world’s largest economy, due to its contribution to GDP, the trade balance, and many other economic indicators.
Dear Ambassadors,
My message for the world, and for Africa, could be a synthesis, of all my research, conferences, and contributions, articulated around a cry from the heart, to alert on the importance, to create, and to build a tourism from home; which we have the obligation to market under a benchmark brand, on the African continent, so as to produce outgoing tourism access to African inter-state tourism, and based on the rules for the growth of inclusive tourism.
In front of you dear Ambassadors, and with all of us together, let us appeal to our policies so that tourism policies can be harmonized, under a directive from the African Union. The single visa, or the single passport, reinforces peace and security, a guarantee of free movement of goods and people.
Little or nothing has been done, it must be recognized for the integration, especially in terms of harmonized legislation, to protect our tourism sector already extroverted, without support, up to the ambitions of governments, to make Africa , a continent emitting tourists in its own geographical space.
Studies have established that the African tourism market can become an important and very profitable market, if it benefits from high-level institutional support, with the tools and mechanisms, financing adapted to its economic model, coupled with a private / private partnership with actors from the same continent.
The branding of Africa is irreversible, inevitable, and strategic. And this branding will only have meaning if it is capable of contributing significantly to the significant increase in the weight of the African continent in global tourism, and in the social transformation of the businesses and populations concerned.
When I spoke about e-tourism in 2000, my objective was to prepare the structural transformation of the governance of the sector, to provide Africa via Senegal with an essential platform for digital tourism, which would transform our reservation system, sale, promotion of our destinations and direct payment.
This would make our destinations more accessible, less expensive, and just a click away, making Africa a new and more attractive tourist destination in the world.
Technological innovation and digital marketing, which have become new drivers of tourism governance, had alerted us, but in vain no action was taken either by the administrative authorities or by the private sector.
Today, World Tourism Day, it is a new commitment that we must make here and now, for a change of approach and analysis, which are necessary to build, domestic tourism, and interstate tourism, pan African which would protect our companies and our workers from all terrorist attacks, ecological health, climate, etc.
Dear Ambassadors, dear actors,
We all know that the key issues of climate change, and its adverse effects on the environment, and tourism, are often not decided by tourism ministers, but by heads of state who give guidance, to ministers on international issues. Should we not directly address the heads of state, so that our concerns can be heard in high places.
We also know that climate change is a hot topic, to which we must underline the urgency and importance, of defining, at the level of the entire tourism sector, an approach, actions, and a message that be clear, and consistent.
The actions that we should take for the climate, for the environment and for tourism, should not be exclusively political questions, but a civic, eco-responsible commitment, at the forefront of which would also be tourists.
We, tourism actors, must form a block in order to encourage organizations from all over the world of tourism to become sentinels, to publicly show our support, and our interest in a clean environment, in particular, the safeguard of biodiversity, the protection of fauna and flora.
climate action is everyone’s business. We, a tourism actor, must be at the forefront, to show our determination to improve and encourage sustainable tourism, as well as good practices in areas where tourism is produced; and or the attractiveness of the different tourist poles, should be the subject of a separate environmental, socio-economic analysis, to then unite the points of convergence, and of complementarity, to design cross-linked tourist products, giving meaning and experience unique to the traveler, which would be complemented by a second stay to build customer loyalty.
The establishment of the slavery route, the rehabilitation of our heritage, historical, cultural, religious, and its colonial infrastructures, which speak to us; but also remind us of our history, our past, are more than necessary to enhance.
To come back to the theme: “Tourism and inclusive growth” of World Day 2021, I want to emphasize with strength and determination, this two-speed tourism which coexists, and which leaves Africa no chance to develop. , since the African continent is far, very far behind the world’s leading destinations. While our tourism offers more change of scenery, openness, and exoticism and discovery, so as not to be in the pay of the international tourism lobby.
The celebration this year by Côte d’Ivoire, the host country, should highlight a number of commitments, and awareness.
– By the will of Africans, to free themselves from the dicta, and from the policy of the UNWTO, which does not treat all member countries with the same attention and the expected diligence.
– The capacity of tourism, to promote the inclusive development of Africa, which is a weapon for our development.
– Have the adoption of appropriate legislation, to give shape to strong alliances, and code-sharing, to boost intra-regional air transport in our own spaces, which would promote the emergence of a new domestic tourism with regional airports.
– The role of tourism in promoting respect for the environment, and the business opportunities it offers, to millions of people in Africa.
– Its potential to create jobs for all, and its role as a lever for economic growth and social stability.
To do this, the sector needs:
– Workers in the tourism sector throughout the value chain.
– Training centers and approved trainers.
– Well-informed local populations, for involvement throughout the tourist journey.
– Travelers who participate in respect for values and cultures, and carry out activities, in accordance with respect for the environment, and local practices, in order to ensure the growth of healthy, quality tourism, profitable to populations, businesses, and the country.
And finally, a strong, organized, united, credible, hardworking, solvent, alert and serious private sector
Dear Ambassadors, I call on ATB, the African Tourism Board and the WTN World Travel Network, to continue their efforts and their alerts, in order to develop strategies, and medium-term approaches, in the following axes:
– The pursuit of forward-looking thinking, on the environment constantly, to suggest and support its members to undertake a marketing approach focused on digital with dynamic content based on NTICS, and focus on performance and results.
– To make improving the attractiveness of destinations a priority and an essential pillar of promotion, which puts the customer at the heart of concerns, if not the only concern. To this, we must add safety and security controls to guarantee a quality of service, which respects standards and health provisions.
– Support the competitiveness of SMEs and SMIs, through healthy and fair competition, transparency in the granting of authorizations and approvals, as well as access to financing.
– To redefine the product in its design, taking into account changes in accommodation methods, in order to take into account significant changes, and the needs expressed by travelers, and the requirements of local tourism.
– To make a solemn commitment to the actors, for technical assistance, allowing them to build a benchmark local tourism inexpensively.
Dear friends of tourism, stakeholders, decision-makers, investors, authorities, here is the message in a few lines. Our message is on behalf of the ambassadors.
This message is launched with proposals for axes, a well-thought-out and well-developed strategy, for the marketing of the African tourist offer, within a framework of complementarity, partnership, and synergies; in order to promote African tourism, as a single destination, with multiple offers, and different experiences.
Let’s make these words our raison d’être: Africa does not need the world, rather the world needs Africa.
Together, and united, we will win
Thank you for your kind attention
Ambassador Faouzou Dème of Senegal World hero of tourism
Gouvernement du Senega, Deme Mouhamed Faouzou, Dakar, Senegal