First COMESA Tourism Forum Draft Agenda released

COMESA has organized the Sustainable Tourism Development Forum, to be held on 22-23 August 2012 at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club, Nairobi.

The public-private dialogue, running the theme “Shaping the Future of Tourism in COMESA”, will bring together over 70 regional participants from tourism boards, investment promotion agencies, tourism businesses and development partners.

Here is the agenda for the two-day forum

Day one -22 August 2012

08.30am – 09.00am Registration for the Forum

09.00am – 10.00am Official Opening Ceremony

Opening Remarks:

J        CEO, Kenya Tourist Board

J        Chairman of COMESA Business Council

J        Secretary General, COMESA

Official Opening Statement: Hon Minister of Tourism, Conservation, and Natural Resources, Kenya

10.00am – 10.30am Group Photograph – Coffee Break and Networking Session

10.30am – 11.15am Session 1

Innovative Tourism: Success stories among key business leaders in Africa

Moderator: Mr. Thierry Kalonji, Acting Director, IPPSD, COMESA Secretariat

Keynote Speakers:

J        Mr Tewolde Gebremariam, Group CEO, Ethiopian Airlines

J        Mrs. Rosemary Mugambi, Marketing Manager, Serena Hotel

J        Mr. Josue Cesar, Manager Tourism Product and Visitor Services, Seychelles Tourism Board

Discussion

11.15am – 12.00am: Session 2

Tourism Sector: Expanding economic opportunities and regional development to impact the global economy

Moderator: Mr. Eric S. Maseko, CEO, Swaziland Tourism Authority (TBC)

Speakers:

J        UN World Tourism Organization, Message of the Secretary General – Read by Prof. Wolfgang H. Thome

J        Ms. Agatha Juma, CEO, Kenya Tourism Federation

J        Mr. Josue Cesar, Manager – Tourism Product and Visitor Services, Seychelles Tourism Board

Discussion

12.00am – 12.45am: Session 3

The COMESA Sustainable Tourism Development Framework: Basis for Policy and Strategy

Speakers:

J        Mr. Thierry Mutombo, Director of Investment Promotion and Private Sector Development, COMESA

J        Rosette Rugamba, Tourism Expert

Discussion

12.45 – 14.00 Lunch Break

14.00 – 15.00: Session 3 (continues)

Sustainable Tourism: Prioritizing the tourism industry to ensure corporate and environmental responsibility for community development

Focusing on:

J        Foster collaboration in terms of trans-frontier agreements and resource management

J        Encourage the prioritization of the tourism sector at the national level for economic and social development

J        Improve the collection of tourism data and capturing of statistics

Moderator: Mr. Kahindi Lekalhaile, CEO, Ecotourism Kenya

Speakers:

J        Mr. Gibson Phiri, Deputy General Manager, Garden Groups Hotel

J        Mr. Amon Wekesa, President, UgandaTourism Association

J        Mr. Helen Lubowa, Chief Executive Officer, UCOTA

Discussion

15.00 – 16.00: Session 3 (continues)

Relaxation of Visa requirements

Focusing on:

J        Creation and implementation of a COMESA single visa

J        Encourage country immigration authorities develop an appropriate framework to facilitate adoption of single tourist visa for the region

J        Integrate flexibilities in immigration requirements to allow visa requirements for extensions of legitimate activities

Moderator: Ms. Rosette Rugamba, Tourism Expert

Speakers:

J        Mr. Simba Mandinyenya, Director, Research, Planning and Development- RETOSA

J        Kenya Ministry of Immigration (TBC)

J        Prof. Wolfgang H. Thome, Eastern Africa, and Indian Ocean Islands Correspondent, eTurboNews Inc

Discussion

16.00 – 16.15 Coffee Break

16.15 – 17.15: Session 3 (continues)

Coalition in the Tourism Industry: Regional Cooperation amongst players in the tourism sector

Moderator: Ms. Lucy Karume, Chairperson, Kenya Tourism Federation (TBC)

Speakers:

J        Mr. Francis Ngwenya, Vice President (Hospitality), Zimbabwe Tourism Council

J        Mr. Shadrack Mashauri, Principal Tourism Officer, EAC Secretariat

J        Ms. Rosemary Mugambi, Marketing Manager, Serena Group of Hotels

J        Ms. Waturi Matu, Coordinator, East African Tourism Platform (TBC)

Discussion

End of Day one

Day two: 23 August 2012

08.30 – 09.30: Session 3 (continues)

Tourism and Climate Change: Conserving biodiversity for tourism development

Focusing on:

J        Involving the private sector in the formulation of tourism regulations, industry and policy frameworks at the national and regional levels

J        Consider tourism sectors response to climate change

J        Enhance the development of ecotourism at the national and regional levels

Moderator: Dr. Amany Asfour, Board Member, COMESA Business Council

Speakers:

J        Mr. Jamil Butt, Tourism Ambassador toZambia, Seychelles.

J        Mr. Edwin Sebuhoro- CEO, Eco-tours Rwanda

J        Mr. Charles Arden Clarke, Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism (TBC)

J        Mr. George Manyara, Tourism Office, IGAD (TBC)

Discussion

09.30 – 10.30: Session 3 (continues)

Upgrading the tourism industry standards and developing human and institutional capacities

Focusing on:

J        Conduct and initiate relevant research, which is regional in scope, on the impact of the tourism industry on natural and socio-cultural environments

J        Provide necessary training and technical support to members countries to enable them to meet necessary standards, as well astraining for regional and international

J        Implement appropriate policies to ensure skills transfer and provisions for a skilled regional labour force

Moderator: Dr. Amany Asfour, Board Member, COMESA Business Council

Speakers:

J        Dr. Nsengimana Hemogene, SecretaryGeneral, Africa Standardization Organization

J        Mr. Jeffreys Manjengwa, Zimbabwe Tourism Board

J        Dr. Kenneth Ombongi, Principal, Utalii College (TBC)

Discussion

10.30 – 10.45 – Networking Coffee Break

10.45 – 11.45: Session 3 (continues)

Tourism and Infrastructure Development: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Air Transport

Focusing on:

J        Develop e-tourism policies and strategies both at the national and regional levels

J        Encourage Member states to develop ICT infrastructure to facilitate the tourism sector in the region

J        Consider the challenges affecting the air transport industry and way forward

J        Promote interconnectivity in air transport for tourism development in the region, taking consideration the responsibility of governments and air service providers

Moderator: TBA

Speakers

J        Mr. Damien Cook, Director, Managing Director, E- Tourism Frontiers Limited

J        Mr. Tewolde, Gebre Mariam, CEO, Ethiopia Airlines

Discussion

11.45 – 12.45: Session 3 (continues)

Tourism Product Development and Marketing

Focusing on:

J        Branding COMESA as a single destination;

J        Creating innovative products that are competitive

J        Developing affordable trans-frontier and regional tourism packages

Moderator: TBA

Speakers

J        Ms. Doris Kofi,Zambia Tourism Board

J        Mr. Fred Okeyo, Regional Marketing Manager, Kenya Tourist Board (TBC)

Discussion

12.45 – 14.00 Lunch Break

14.00 – 15.00:

Formation of the CBC tourism workgroup

Introduction by Ms. Sandra Uwera, Coordinator, COMESA Business Council

Consideration of the recommendations of the forum

Closing remarks

End of the Forum

Adapted from: Wolfganghthome’s Blog