Punta Cana Summit Unites Africa and the Americas for Sustainable Tourism Development


AFRICA AND THE AMERICAS UNITE FOR A LANDMARK TOURISM SUMMIT, THE PUNTA CANA SUMMIT, FOCUSING ON SUSTAINABLE GROWTH THROUGH EDUCATION, INNOVATION, AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS.
Tourism leaders from Africa and the Americas have joined forces to transform the tourism sector into a pillar of sustainable and inclusive development across both continents. The “Punta Cana Declaration” concluded the first joint meeting of UN Tourism’s Regional Commissions for Africa and the Americas, focusing on education and investments in the sector. This summit aimed to capitalize on the regions’ historic ties, diverse cultures, and unique opportunities to drive tourism growth through innovation, education, and creative industries.
Key Outcomes of the Punta Cana Summit
The Punta Cana Summit welcomed around 200 high-level participants, including 14 ministers from 27 countries (15 from the Americas and 12 from Africa). UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili emphasized the event’s significance, stating that it created a platform to strengthen connections and build strategic partnerships. South-South cooperation projects emerged as a central focus, aiming to benefit tourism across the two continents.
David Collado, Minister of Tourism for the Dominican Republic and Chair of the Regional Commission for the Americas, joined Auxillia Mnangagwa, Patron for Tourism in Zimbabwe, in welcoming delegates. UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona highlighted the challenges preventing stronger tourism relations, such as limited connectivity, regulatory barriers, and a lack of mutual market awareness. She underscored the summit’s role in addressing these issues to boost economic development, cultural exchange, and sustainable practices.
The Punta Cana Declaration: A Commitment to Growth
The Punta Cana Declaration marked a significant step toward South-South cooperation, setting out a shared commitment to using tourism as a driver of inclusive development. It called for joint efforts to promote sustainable growth, focusing on strategic investments, education, innovation, and the creative industries. The Declaration also emphasized tourism’s role in preserving shared and unique cultures and heritage.
The Punta Cana Declaration outlined key areas for action:
- Strategic Investments: Leaders committed to strengthening public-private partnerships, boosting investments, and enhancing connectivity between Africa and the Americas. This includes improving air links and fostering cultural exchanges.
- Skills Development and Training: The focus will be on expanding access to tourism education and training, both online and offline, while promoting digital skills and innovation to advance the tourism workforce.
- Innovation: The initiative supports competitions for start-ups and entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in rural communities. It aims to promote sustainable solutions for climate action.
- Creative Industries: Leaders at Punta Cana Summit will support cultural and creative projects that attract tourists, boost diverse destinations, and create cultural routes. These efforts aim to ensure tourism delivers social and inclusive development.
- Inter-Regional Cooperation: Tourism leaders will support market analysis and shared growth strategies using digital media, international trade fairs, and new tourism products.
Investing in the Future of Tourism
Aligned with UN Tourism’s focus on investments, the summit brought together public and private sector leaders and financial institutions. They assessed the current landscape, trends, and future outlook for Africa and the Americas. High-level speakers highlighted the immense potential for joint investment initiatives and the growing involvement of public and private banks.
The Punta Cana emphasized the role of investments in driving a green transition for tourism, focusing on developing infrastructure and hotel sectors across both regions. In addition to innovation, education and training took center stage. With the theme “Young Talents Leading the Transformation,” tourism leaders stressed the importance of building a skilled workforce. They called for joint capacity-building programs, curriculum development, and collaborations between academic institutions, industry stakeholders, and governments.