AFRICA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION BECOMES PART OF THE CORPORATE COUNCIL ON AFRICA
(Posted 08th January 2016)
The Corporate Council on Africa, based in Washington DC, will effective immediately take over the New York based Africa Travel Association. The CCoA, formed in 1993, is a non-governmental organization with the purpose of promoting business relations between the United States and African countries and with over 180 members represents a staggering 85 percent of companies with major investments in Africa. So far representing such sectors as energy, infrastructure, agro-businesses, telecommunications and finance among others will the addition of the Africa Travel Association expand the Corporate Council’s range of activities into the tourism sector as well.
The formal announcement will be made in the morning of the 08th of January at the New York Times Travel Show, when additional information will be released to the public.
Mr. Stephen Hayes, President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) said in an advance notification about the acquisition of ATA: ‘The addition of the Africa Travel Association (ATA) to our portfolio of activities strengthens both the Africa Travel Association and the Corporate Council on Africa. Tourism is an essential ingredient in growing the economies of Africa. The potential for growth and investment in tourism in nearly every country in Africa is simply huge, regardless of the stage of development. Our background in working with major corporate players and investors who are looking for new opportunities in Africa is a perfect fit for the historical mission of the ATA for driving tourism growth on the African continent beyond its current global market share of this three percent of international travel’.
The opportunity to combine the two organization presented itself when long-time ATA Executive Director, Edward Bergman, announced he would step down from his position at the end of 2015, following the successful ATA 40th Annual World Congress in Nairobi, Kenya this past November. Eddie Bergman added his own voice to the development when he said: ‘Finding a home for the Africa Travel Association at the Council provides an opportunity for the travel industry within Africa and between the United States and the countries of Africa to reach new heights. The Corporate Council’s focus on investment and development matches the requirements of today and supplements ATA’s existing cultural and historic tourism endeavors throughout Africa. It was hard to imagine a better match for both organizations’.
The Africa Travel Association will operate from Washington DC as a division of the now larger Corporate Council on Africa. The next annual congress will be held in Kigali / Rwanda in November this year with the dates still to be confirmed, once again bringing the North American and African tourism businesses together. More information about the Kigali Congress will be shared as soon as arrangements have been finalized.
Meanwhile can information about the two organizations be found via www.africatravelassociation.org and www.africacncl.org
