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) ".

http://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/Worldbank/document/Africa/Report/africa-tourism-report-2013-overview-fr.pdf