Africa Travel Association Becomes Affiliate Of Corporate Council On Africa.
Courtesy: africatourismwebportal.com |
Dedicated to US-Africa tourism since 1975 and long considered the top
global organisation promoting tourism to Africa, the Africa Travel Association
(ATA) recently became an operating element under the Corporate Council on
Africa. The formal announcement was made at the New York Times Travel Show held
on January 8, 2016.
Speaking further on the issue, Stephen Hayes, President and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO), Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) said, “The addition
of the Africa Travel Association (ATA) to our portfolio of activities
strengthens both the Africa Travel Association and the Corporate Council on
Africa. Tourism is an essential ingredient in growing the economies of Africa.
The potential for growth and investment in tourism in nearly every country in
Africa is simply huge, regardless of the stage of development.”
According to Hayes, “Our background in working with major corporate
players and investors who are looking for new opportunities in Africa is a
perfect fit for the historical mission of the ATA for driving tourism growth on
the African continent beyond its current global market share of three percent
of international travel.” The opportunity to combine the two organisations
presented itself when long-time ATA Executive Director, Edward Bergman,
disclosed that he would step down from his position at the end of 2015,
following the successful ATA 40th Annual World Congress in Nairobi, Kenya in
November 2015.
Bergman noted, “Finding a home for the Africa Travel Association at the
Council provides an opportunity for the travel industry within Africa and
between the United States and the countries of Africa to reach new heights.” He
added that, “The Corporate Council’s focus on investment and development
matches the requirements of today and supplements ATA’s existing cultural and
historic tourism endeavors throughout Africa. It was hard to imagine a better
match for both organisations.”
CCA has been a leading advocate for US-Africa trade and investment since
its founding in 1993 through a grant from then Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown
and the United States Agency for International Development. In the past 23
years, the council has grown to incorporate 180 corporations representing
approximately 85 per cent of all US private investment in Africa.
CCA focuses on various sectors for investment including infrastructure, financing, health, energy, power and agribusiness. ATA will operate in Washington, DC as a division of the Corporate Council.
CCA focuses on various sectors for investment including infrastructure, financing, health, energy, power and agribusiness. ATA will operate in Washington, DC as a division of the Corporate Council.
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