ELEVEN AFRICAN COUNTRIES THREATENED WITH SUSPENSION BY UNWTO
(Posted 18th September 2015)
Eleven out of twenty member states of the UN’s World Tourism Organization now threatened with suspension over non-payment of dues for a prolonged period of time are coming from Africa, it was learned earlier in the day.
In alphabetical order are the twenty countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Syrian Arab Republic, Macedonia, Turkmenistan and Vanuatu. A further 26 affiliate members, the overall number of affiliates now stands at 480, were also served with the notice of intent to suspend, a damning indictment to the listed countries and the affiliates of just how seriously they take their tourism sectors.
UNWTO has time and again proven its value to member states and affiliates of providing vital statistics, training opportunities, marketing opportunities and general guidance in particular during challenging times and to see that eleven African countries, and even some tourist boards among the affiliate members, are now in such default with their dues, is a clarion call for those countries’ private sectors to demand of their governments that payments are made immediately.
It could not be immediately confirmed that an East African tourist board affiliate was among those cited and listed for suspension.
