Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa is expected to attend the Tourism Expo in Tokyo, Japan, from 21 – 24 September.
The Tourism Expo Japan is an annual event, equivalent to Africa’s Travel Indaba, and will this year feature the first Ministerial Roundtable on Sustainable Tourism.
The roundtable will be attended by almost 14 Tourism Ministers, top executives from the tourism fraternity, members of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) executive, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). It 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 the panel discussions that will focus on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, social inclusiveness, employment, poverty reduction, resource efficiency, environmental protection and climate change; cultural values, diversity heritage, mutual understanding as well as peace and security.
The Tourism Expo in Japan takes place 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 27 September, which will this year be hosted by Mpumalanga province. – SAnews.gov.za
