Akinboboye tasks AU on African Continental Tourism Agenda

As African Union (AU) and its 55 Member States look to how best to implement the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the President of La Campagne, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, has called for the setting up of Africa Continental Tourism Agenda (AfCTA) to drive the process of making Africa a thriving destination.

Speaking on the need to make AfCFTA work, which since its came into being in 2020, is yet to receive the welcome impact, Akinboboye, noted that Africans first must understand themselves and the importance of travelling within the continent.

According to him, tourism is the vehicle, which will make trade in the continent as envisaged by AU through AfCFTA, to be effective, as trade is imbedded within tourism.

He therefore called on AU to immediately set up what he termed as Africa Continental Tourism Agenda (AfCTA), which is in sync with AfCFTA but devoted entirely to the promotion of tourism within the continent.

‘‘What Africa needs to develop is to set up African Continental Tourism Agenda (AfCTA) that will encourage and give free access to Africans to travel within the continent. Not for the purpose of trade alone but purely for tourism, to engage in all forms of tourism activities ranging from leisure, adventure, education, culture, entertainment, and business to ecotourism,’’ he said.

He added, “It is the tourism agenda that would explode the trade (AfCFTA) agenda and not the other way round as it is presently.’’

To drive home this point, he made reference to Dubai, which he said is the most successful destination in the world to. Dubai’s success, he noted, is hinged on the fact that its first created a tourism model as its focal point to drive its trade and today it has one of the most thriving economies in the world weaved around tourism.

To achieve Dubai’s model in Africa, Akinboboye said AU must come up with a strategic plan that is entirely focused on tourism, adding, “We have to be intentional about focusing on our tourism as Dubai has done. This means that both the private and public sectors must close ranks and work closely together on it.’’