The Investment Tourism International Conference ( ITIC) a global tourism investment summit started on a high note as the Chairman of ITIC and Patron of ATB Dr. Taleb Rifai notably ushered in the summit at the ongoing World Travel Market, London, yesterday.

The event, a high profile one was graced by several Tourism Ministers from across the globe.

Dr. Taleb emphasized a need for an inclusive appreciation where communities are incorporated within the value chain of all the economic endeavours, as mostly they are the true custodians of the resources in every sphere of the broader economies.

Other Panelists during the conference were the Minister of Tourism from Jordan, Minister of Tourism from Jamaica, Minister of Tourism from Egypt, the Director of IFC as well as the Executive Chairman of the African Tourism Board among other prominent tourism stakeholders as participants.

The two day Summit will reflect the current economic outlook and predictions for the travel and tourism sector in 2023 and how the sector can attract investments through incentive and conducive policies by building viable and sustainable destinations, a key factor in the travel and tourism sector.

The event will also attempt at finding strategies to increasing investment flows into Africa’s tourism industry, looking at how the continent with an emphasy on Botswana is repositioning itself, and Bostwana being a new gateway for the Southern African region, noting the good success stories from the East African block and the Western African block, having made progressive strives by robustly improving in an inclusive drive at achieving sustainability and accessibility to their regional destinations.

The summit is proudly organised by Chief Amb. Ibrahim Ayoub, the Group CEO, ITIC and a prominent member of the leading tourism organization in Africa, the African Tourism Board, representing Mauritius.