Last night a welcome cocktail was held for the participating delegations.
SANTO DOMINGO - The first UN Tourism Summit for Africa and the Americas will officially open at 10:30 am this Thursday, taking place from today, October 3, until next Saturday, October 5, in Punta Cana, the destination that receives the largest number of visitors each year in the Dominican Republic.
The meeting seeks to leverage the cultural richness, diverse landscapes, and important historical heritage and connections of both regions, through greater tourism cooperation and to stimulate economic development, promote cultural exchanges, and encourage sustainable practices on both continents.
The event will bring together ministers and key players in tourism from both continents, under the auspices of UN Tourism and at the request of the Dominican Republic.
David Collado, Minister of Tourism, assured that the summit will be "historic and momentous for the country," since the eyes of the tourism world will be on the country during those three days.
“With this event, the world’s tourism spotlight will be on the Dominican Republic, once again positioning our country as a beacon to follow. It is truly momentous,” the official said.
Last night the Dominican delegation offered a welcome cocktail to the participants.
Agenda for the first day
David Collado will deliver the welcoming remarks, followed by Louis Steven Obeegadoo, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Planning, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Mauritius, and Chairperson of the Regional Commission for Africa. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the United Nations Tourism Office, will then take the stage.
According to the program released by the Ministry of Tourism, the first presentation will be given at 11:00 am by Auxillia Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe Tourism Patron and First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
According to the agenda below, there will be a ministerial dialogue “Building opportunities between Africa and the Americas”, moderated by Gustavo Santos, Regional Director of the Regional Department for the Americas of UN Tourism and Elcia Grandcourt, Regional Director of the Regional Department for Africa of UN Tourism.
The adoption of the Punta Cana Declaration will be the next topic, followed by the presentation "Building bridges between continents: boosting links between Africa and the Americas", by Peter Cerda, Regional Vice President of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The talk "Cooking Connections: The Power of Gastronomy to Unite Continents" will continue with Yohanis Hailemariam, Chef, Ethiopia, United Nations Tourism Ambassador
Also on the first day there will be a presentation of cultural sculpture, bilateral meetings and in the evening a gala dinner, with the Afro-Latin American and Caribbean culinary and cultural show.
