TourismAfrica2006: Bringing Project Holders, Financing Bodies and Investors Together for the Development of Tourism in Africa.

GENEVA -- TourismAfrica2006, which will be held in Geneva from September 10th to 15th 2006, aims at contributing to the development of Africa's tourism industry by fostering the investment and financing of Tourist projects, focussing on sustainable development and promoting African destinations.

This international event received the official support of leading institutions such as the African Union, the World Tourism Organisation, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNESCO, the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the Geneva State. It will gather qualified African and international decision-makers from the public and private sectors within three activities: a Congress under the patronage of the World Travel and Tourism Council, an Exhibition and a Business Development Center.

Among others, financing bodies and investors as well as African tourist projects holders are invited to attend the event, where free desks will be provided to them in the Invest-In-Africa area located in the Business Development Center, from September 12th to 15th. The Invest in Africa area is intended to be the meeting point for all the key stakeholders in the development of African Tourism.

African, foreign and international governments, institutions and organizations as well as the private sector from the African continent and the rest of the world will be represented. More specifically, this area will convene African Finance and Tourism Ministries, African Tourism Boards, African Regional Economic Communities, International Financial Institutions and Development Banks, Banks and Banks' Associations and Insurance Companies, Private Investors and Investment Funds, Bilateral Development Organisms, Project holders, Investment Promotion Agencies, Chambers of commerce and industry, Trade Unions, Banking Associations, Hospitality Groups etc.

Organized in collaboration with the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), the United Nations Conference on Commerce and Development (UNCTAD) and the African Development Bank, the Invest-In-Africa area will bring those actors together so that they may organise meetings and develop co-operations within two interconnected zones:

--International Finance & Investment: investors and financing bodies will have the opportunity to assess projects (hotels, resorts, lodges, real-estate, infrastructure, environmental projects etc.) and identify investment opportunities.

--Africa Development: Investment Promotion Agencies and project holders in Africa will have the opportunity to promote outward investment in Africa's tourism industry and develop cooperation with international and African decision-makers present during this occasion.

In order to ensure efficient opportunities' identification and business meetings, participants have the opportunity to submit and consult tourism projects on the TourismAfrica website www.tourismafrica.com.