WORLD TOURISM BODY AFFIRMS ABIDJAN CONFERENCE AFTER GRAND BASSAM TERROR STRIKE
(Posted 14th March 2016)
On behalf of the international tourism community, UNWTO yesterday strongly condemned the attack at a hotel in the town of Grand Bassam, in Côte d’Ivoire and conveys its heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims.
‘We are appalled by this horrible act of violence. Our thoughts at this difficult moment are with the families and friends of the victims and the people of Côte d’Ivoire‘ said UNWTO Secretary-General, Dr. Taleb Rifai.
UNWTO reaffirmed its full support and confidence in Côte d’Ivoire’s tourism sector which has been growing over the last couple of years.
‘We trust that tourism will continue to play a key role in advancing development in Côte d’Ivoire and we very much look forward meeting in Abidjan on 19-21 April for the 58th UNWTO Commission for Africa and the 10YFP Sustainable Tourism Conference & Symposium‘ added Dr. Rifai.
The UNWTO Commission for Africa is the yearly meeting of the UNWTO Member States and Affiliate Members. The 2016 meeting will take place in Abidjan from the 19th until the 21st of April, together with the 10YFP Sustainable Tourism Conference & Symposium on ‘Accelerating the Shift towards Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (SCP)’.
Additional information is available on the events through the following link:
http://africa.unwto.org/event/58th-unwto-caf-meeting-and-2016-10yfp-sustainable-tourism-conference-symposium-accelerating-sh
Tourism and aviation, trains and busses, hotels and restaurants are soft targets often selected by the brutal killers purporting to be acting on religious motivation. This however is a reason today known as a feeble excuse to live out their murderous tendencies and, being a global problem, can only be addressed on a global scale.
Singling out victim countries of terror attacks, as has been the case among others with Kenya, Egypt and Tunesia, only plays into the hands of these groups which are keen to bring about economic hardship and international isolation over and above the initial killings.
#NoAntiTravelAdvisoriesAgainstCountriesHitByTerrorism
