Ministers of Tourism and Tourism practitioners in the African Continent are at the Tinapa Resort, Calabar, Cross River State, Monday, June 25, 2012, opening a Regional Seminar, hosted by the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, in conjunction with the 53rd United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Commission for Africa.

The seminar, with the theme, “Responsible Tourism: Opportunities for Women and Youth,” is aimed at, among other things, raising awareness on the opportunities that tourism offers to women and youth, and ensuring improved cooperation between governments, organisations, the private sector and the civil society actors, to tap the potentials of women and youth in tourism.

Three panel groups, “Forging Women Leaders in African Tourism,” “Strengthening Entrepreneurship in Africa’s Tourism Sector,” and “Capacity Building and Community Development,” will feature during the technical session on Tuesday, June 26, 2012.

Special Guests expected at the formal opening ceremony today, include, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, the Minister of Culture of Burkina Faso, Mr. Baba Hama, the UNWTO Secretary-General, Mr. Taleb Rifai, and Nigeria’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, who is the chief host.

The Executive Director, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Professor Tunde Babawale, Executive Director, National Council for Arts & Culture (NCAC), Mr. M.M. Maidugu, and the Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, are among heads of federal cultural parastatals attending the seminar.

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