Morocco is participating in the first Africa-Americas Summit, sponsored by UN Tourism, which started on Thursday in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and will run until October 5, according to Morocco’s News Agency (MAP).
Moroccan ambassador to Santo Domingo Hicham Dahan is representing Morocco at the summit. The Africa-Americas Summit seeks to highlight the strong ties between the two continents and the vital role of tourism in enhancing these relationships and improving the living conditions of their citizens.
“Amid global interconnectivity and cultural diversity, South-South cooperation between Africa and the Americas is essential for promoting sustainable development,” Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, said at the summit’s opening.
Pololikashvili noted that “promoting tourism and strengthening the creative industry are strategic pillars that drive economic growth and foster mutual understanding, cultural diversity, and the exchange of experiences.”
The two continents recorded 267 million tourist arrivals last year, generating $371 billion in revenue—an increase of nearly 31% compared to 2022, according to official data. From 2018 to 2023, 470 new investment projects worth $37.4 billion have been announced in the two regions, creating 131,763 jobs.
Many speakers at the summit also highlighted Africa’s influence in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly its impact on culture, music, cuisine, and traditions.
The inaugural high-level meeting helped foster innovation ecosystems in tourism by encouraging entrepreneurship among key stakeholders, developing and adopting new technologies, and strengthening alliances to address common challenges such as climate change, economic and social inequalities, and cultural preservation.
The host country’s Vice President Raquel Peña, various ministers, high-ranking officials, diplomats, and tourism representatives from both sides of the Atlantic attended the event.