68th UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) Meeting: Boosting Social Impact and Education in Tourism

Strategic Insights -

The 68th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) held in Abuja, Nigeria, from June 11-13, 2025, attracted visitors from across the continent and the world. The event, which brought together Ministers of Tourism, diplomats, and tourism agencies, highlighted the importance of eco-friendly tourism and preservation of cultural heritage. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, emphasized the need for African countries to adopt policies promoting sustainable tourism and cultural preservation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The meeting emphasized the importance of eco-friendly tourism and preservation of cultural heritage, with President Tinubu urging African countries to adopt policies promoting sustainable tourism.
  • The Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, highlighted the potential of innovation, artificial intelligence, and creative industries to unlock Africa's rich tourism potential.
  • The 68th CAF theme, "Boosting Social Impact and Education in Tourism via Innovation, AI, and Creative Industries in Africa," aimed to deploy technology to enhance productivity, business, and empowerment.
  • The meeting featured high-level panel discussions, including one on Artificial Intelligence in tourism, which discussed the potential of AI in tourism promotion, idea generation, and lead development.
  • The delegates also toured specific attractions in Abuja, including galleries and tourism outfits, with Elcia Grancourt, UN Tourism Regional Director for Africa, expressing her excitement over the successful event.
  • The meeting emphasized the importance of integrating artificial intelligence and digital transformation within the tourism sector, with a focus on building capacity among young leaders in Nigeria's tourism sector.

Statistics:

  • The global tourism industry is valued at over $11 trillion, while Africa accounts for less than 5% of global tourism revenue and under 1% of global creative exports.
  • The United Nations special agency, UN Tourism, rode on the successful hosting of its events in Nigeria in the recent past to pull off the 68th CAF meeting.
  • The theme of the Thematic Conference reflects where Africa's future must head, with a focus on scaling up programmes that link young designers, musicians, and filmmakers with tourism boards and investors.

Sources:

  • The Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Culture, Art, Tourism, and Creative Economy, and the UN Tourism
  • Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy
  • UN Tourism Regional Director for Africa, Elcia Grancourt
  • UN Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili
  • Minister of Tourism and Wildlife, Republic of Zambia, Rodney Sikumba
  • Lai Mohammed, Advisor to the UN Tourism