On April 23, 2023, the United Nations Tourism organization inaugurated its first thematic office in Africa, marking a significant milestone for the agency on the continent. The ceremony took place in Rabat and was attended by Moroccan Minister of Tourism, Fatim Zahra Ammor, and the UN Tourism Secretary-General, Shaikha Al Nowais. The event also saw the participation of various African ambassadors and institutional leaders, as reported by the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism.
According to the ministry's announcement, African tourism is "structurally undervalued on a global scale," highlighting the necessity of this new office which was created with the belief that the most effective solutions to the continent's challenges will come from its own stakeholders. The office aims to implement capacity-building programs designed to benefit both public and private sector players, as well as organize forums focused on tourism innovation and initiatives to support entrepreneurship across the continent.
The objective of this thematic office is to serve as a hub for ideas, talents, and partnerships that will shape the future of African tourism. It operates under a legal framework established by two agreements signed in 2025 between Morocco and UN Tourism, which outline its legal basis, funding, and operational structure.
Ultimately, the mission of the UN Tourism Office for Africa is to advance the 2030 Agenda and position tourism as a key driver of economic and social development across the continent.
As reported by swissinfo.ch.
