The Minister of Tourism Tokozile Xasa will attend the Tourism
Expo in Japan from 21 to 24 September 2017, at the invitation of the Japanese
Association Travel Agents (JATA), in collaboration with the United Nations World
Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
The Tourism EXPO Japan is an annual event, equivalent to
Africa’s Travel Indaba, and will this year feature the 1st Ministerial
Round-table on Sustainable Tourism, to be hosted on 21 September 2017 in Tokyo.
The round table will be attended by almost 14 Tourism Ministers, top executives
from the Tourism fraternity, members of the UNWTO executive, World Travel and
Tourism Council (WTTC), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and from the
organisers, and is aimed at reflecting on 2017 as the International Year of
Sustainable Tourism for Development as designated by the United Nations.
Minister Xasa is
expected to be one of the speakers during panel discussions which will focus on
inclusive and sustainable economic growth; social inclusiveness, employment and
poverty reduction; resource efficiency, environmental
protection and climate change; cultural values, diversity and heritage; mutual
understanding, as well as peace and security.
The Round-Table will be held at the International Conference
Room at Tokyo Big Sight with an audience of 900 from travel trade professionals
as well as exhibitors from Japan and from 140 countries expected to be in
attendance. It is important to note that the Tourism Expo in Japan takes in the
month of September, observed as Tourism Month, when the Department of Tourism
encourages South Africans to travel and explore their own country. Activities
lined up during this month build up to the celebration of the UNWTO World
Tourism Day on the 27th of September 2017, which will this year be hosted by
Mpumalanga Province.
For further information contact:
Adv Mahlodi S Muofhe
Special Advisor to the Minister
Tel: 082 972 0141