Bartlett appointed to African tourism board

TOURISM MINISTER Edmund Bartlett has been appointed to the board of sitting ministers and appointed public officials of the newly formed African Tourism Board association.

Bartlett received the appointment while in London recently, during the official unveiling of the multinational body at this year’s World Travel Market (WTM). The organisation, which is part of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners, was developed to promote the hospitality sector in Africa.

Other members include Hon José Gonçalves, Cape Verde’s minister of tourism; Hon Minister Mahmoud Kombo, Zanzibar’s minister of information, tourism and heritage; Pascal Viroleau, CEO, The Vanilla Islands Organisation; and Hon Dr Memunatu Pratt, Sierra Leone’s minister of tourism & culture.

The leadership of the group also includes a number of international travel journalists, as well

HOSPITALITY JAMAICA as leading African travel and tourism companies.

During the unveiling ceremony, the initiative received endorsement from former secretary general of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Dr Taleb Rifai, and president of the World Travel Awards, Graham Cooke.

The African Tourism Board provides aligned advocacy, insightful research, and innovative events to its members. It aims to enhance the

| WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 sustainable growth, value, and quality of travel and tourism to, from, and within Africa.

The association will provide leadership and counsel on an individual and collective basis to its member organisations. It is also expanding on opportunities for marketing, public relations, investments, branding, and promoting and establishing niche markets.

The official launch is scheduled to take place in Cape Town, South Africa, April 2019.