Title: Resolution
No. A / RES / 572 (XVIII) of the WTO: A relevant initiative to change the
tourist gives to Africa.
Subtitle: Until the Benin respects its signatures, other countries can still move
forward.
Description: The tourism situation on the continent remains a concern: The solution
generated by Africa itself, is yet available since 2009.
Indeed, in a recent
report entitled "Tourism in Africa: decay factor and improved
livelihoods", released in 2013, the World Bank ranked Benin among the
"potential" country, compared to its level tourism development in
African countries south of the Sahara (47 countries).
According to the
report, the potential number of countries to 15 has the potential to develop
tourism but the sector is characterized by inadequate governance.
The three (3) other
categories of the grid at four scales are:
- Emerging
countries: means that these countries, the number of ten (10) are already
developing tourism but are facing difficulties.
- Countries in
consolidation phase, means that these countries at number eight (eight):
• Endeavour to
consolidate and build on the success of tourism,
• Part of the best
examples in Africa.
- Countries
pre-emerging, means that 14 countries have not yet developed their tourism
sector. Governance and security would be poor, as well as interest and tourism
growth prospects in the medium term. This group also includes three countries,
data on tourism are limited or nonexistent.
You can access your
country's position by referring to the attached report.
Compared to other
sectors, the main benefit of tourism according to the World Bank, would be that
tourist spending, have a catalytic effect on the whole economy, including
production and job creation. 3.8 million jobs could be created in sub-Saharan
Africa during the ten (10) years.
An imperative need for political will
The initiative was
adopted at the WTO, as the "African Initiative for a Public / Private
Partnership to mobilize resources for tourism projects, as part of the MDGs /
ODD and the reduction of poverty through sustainable tourism in Africa".
The title itself is quite evocative of the solutions proposed by the
initiative.
Its implementation
to develop and promote tourism in the continent should be at double technical
and political level, but the political side is still suffering from porting
failure.
The initiative instantly convinces Financial Technical
Partners (TFP): Why the Benin decisions instances, pose no decisive action
since they signed a memorandum with the UNDP in 2010 to implement it?
Indeed, Resolution
No. A / RES / 572 (XVIII) adopted at the 18th General Assembly of the World
Tourism Organization (UNWTO) held in 2009 permet:
- The execution of
ten (10) concrete projects of public axis of the initiative that accomplish the
conclusions of the study of the World Bank, in order to contribute to «the
miracle and magic announced by the President of the current Republic of Benin.
The benefits of the projects of private initiative axis 22 in number,
translated into the "Program Jobs for All 2030 (EFA-2030) for sustainable
tourism in Africa", will be presented later.
- To mobilize
technical and financial resources, through reform, "Delivering as One
United Nations", to develop tourism on the African continent. As such,
Benin, precursor countries in Africa and in the world, has already received
expressions of interest from:
• Four (04) United
Nations organizations:
§ UNDP Benin, which
in 2010 signed a memorandum with the Ministry of Tourism of Benin to implement the
initiative under the Public Private Partnership,
§ The World Tourism
Organization in 2009,
§ The United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 2009,
§ The Center for
International Commerce (ITC) in 2011,
• Twelve (12) Asian
countries through, the Tokyo International Conference on Africa's Development
(TICAD) in 2010, which was made available in Africa in June 2013, 24 billion
euros for cooperation.
• Eight (08)
Ministers responsible for tourism of member countries of the Economic and
Monetary Union of West Africa (UEMOA) in 2010,
• Fifteen (15)
tourism experts from member countries of the West African Development Economic
Community (ECOWAS) in 2012 and
• Government of
Benin in 2009,
The list of
supporters to the initiative is not comprehensive.
A total of 32
projects may still be in government service of "rupture" in Benin and
other African governments, to create wealth and jobs, by reviving the son of
this initiative, through Resolution N ° A / RES / 572 (XVIII) of the WTO.
What has happened since 2011? Benin has shown the way
of "delivery as one" (united in action) in tourism and would as usual
be left behind on the mainland
Despite the
international availability, Benin has not fulfilled its commitments with the
UNDP and other PTFs, jeopardizing his chances to enjoy a great opportunity for
multilateral, bilateral, public and private sought after around the world, that
it has created itself.
In conclusion,
hearing that Benin heal the policy of "one step forward and four steps
back," the country or countries working to competitiveness, performance
and durability in Africa can seize the opportunities of the resolution No. A /
RES / 572 (XVIII) of the WTO, on the African initiative, they have all
contributed to put in place to improve the rankings that the World Bank has
given them.
The expert team of
the initiative and its partner network are still available for this purpose.
Author of the initiative
Mr Guy Apan
JOHNSON: He is a director of Tourism in Benin. Mr Johnson was elected in
registered as an expert to represent Africa at the UNWTO Program Committee. Its
mandates were renewed for 2007-2015.
Mr. Johnson holds a
Master and a postgraduate degree in hospitality and tourism. He totaled 30
years of service in January 2016, including 22 years in positions of
responsibility within the Benin National Tourism Administration: Director,
Advisor, Secretary General, Deputy Chief of Staff etc., the Ministry of
Tourism. He coordinated on behalf of Benin, the United Nations organization
projects as WTO, UNCTAD, ITC.
Consultant for
projects of the European Union, the World Bank, the Canadian International
Development Agency, the Netherlands etc., is founder Guy JOHNSON within the
NGOs (APEDESBA), a research laboratory and development in sustainable tourism
called, International Research Centre for Innovation in Africa Travel (CIRITA).
Author for
governments and the African private sector, more than 50 sustainable tourism
projects, including the "Road Fisheries" in Benin, the African
initiative with the support of UNWTO, supported by UNDP and the program
"Jobs for all by 2030 through sustainable tourism in Africa", he has
proposed a change in mentality Africans program to make it more favorable to
the development of the continent called "Facilitation, Assistance,
Security, Entry Opportunities (FASO) ".