Africa, the Americas Strengthen Tourism Ties at Second UN Tourism Summit

UN Tourism has taken a major step in strengthening South-South cooperation with the successful conclusion of the 2nd Africa & The Americas Summit, held in Livingstone. The summit turned the Punta Cana Declaration into action, presenting concrete plans to drive tourism growth through innovation, connectivity, investment, technical cooperation, and safety.

New data presented at the event revealed the positive recovery of both regions post-pandemic: Africa welcomed 74 million international arrivals in 2024, surpassing 2019 levels by 7%, while the Americas recorded 213 million arrivals, reaching 97% of pre-pandemic figures. UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili emphasized that “this Summit is proof of the enduring commitment of Africa and the Americas to cooperate across borders and oceans,” highlighting the focus on inclusive growth and youth empowerment through training.

A key outcome was the reaffirmation of tourism investment as a cornerstone of development. Since 2019, Africa and Latin America have each invested $3.9 billion across more than 30 tourism projects in each other's regions. UN Tourism announced plans for a Biennial Africa-Americas Tourism Investment Conference, designed to connect governments, private stakeholders, and financial institutions in a shared effort to increase cross-regional tourism investment.

Education and innovation were also spotlighted. With over half the tourism workforce under 25, initiatives to expand training and professional development are underway, including a new UN Tourism Academy in Livingstone and WhatsApp-based courses targeting 2,000 young professionals. A start-up competition titled “Bridges of Innovation” will soon launch to support tourism entrepreneurs focused on sustainability, inclusion, and digital transformation.

Finally, enhanced connectivity and safety remain key to long-term growth. Efforts include a new air connectivity plan in partnership with Guatemala’s INGUAT, and an upcoming Ministerial Conference on Air Transport in Angola. Delegates also reviewed progress on the Safety of Destinations Initiative (SAFE-D), aimed at building crisis resilience and boosting traveler confidence across both continents.