The Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit is anticipated to help re-position Namibia as a business and tourism destination by presenting an updated post-COVID-19 tourism recovery strategy for 2022-2024.
This was according to Erongo Governor Neville Andre Itope, during the launch of the 4th edition of the summit scheduled to take place in Namibia from 26-29 July 2022.
The summit according to Itope, will serve as a platform for youth and start-ups in tourism, travel, hospitality, aviation, academia and all related industries to connect, engage, learn, innovate and grow.
“This is an exclusive platform being provided to innovative African youth in the sector seeking funding, partnership and mentorship opportunities to present their projects to the global marketplace in order to find the required support,” he noted.
Namibia through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) won the bid to host the summit for a three-year period of 2022-2024, in collaboration with Africa Tourism Partners and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
The event will be hosted in close collaboration with the ministries of Sport, Youth and National Service; Information and Communication Technology; Higher Education, Technology and Innovation as well as the Namibia Tourism Board.
The summit is aimed to amongst others support and guide small, medium and micro enterprises in navigating post-COVID-19 “new world” challenges and opportunities – technology, financing and market access.
Deputy Director in MEFT Elise Hashikutuva at the same event emphasised the ministry’s mandate amongst others, to develop a robust tourism sector that includes private and public sectors as well as community partners by creating an enabling environment within which these partners can create value and profit.
“Over the past years, the tourism industry has become one of the most important engines for economic and sustainable growth in many countries. Therefore it is a necessity for the development, diversification of the national economy and the creation of jobs. In addition, it is a tool for bridging innovative ideas and solutions going beyond technology,” Hashikutuva noted.
Media and Awareness Committee coordinator Shoki Kandjimi noted that this summit will also provide an opportunity to market Namibia as a film destination.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
