E Africa resolves to explore regional tourism cooperation

East African countries have resolved to advance regional tourism cooperation to help unlock potential in the region.

UN World Tourism Organisation (UN WTO) said in a statement received on Wednesday following the conclusion of the three-day meeting in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa that ministers and representatives from East Africa and the Vanilla Islands also outlined the East African tourism agenda.

"The Agenda will include agreements on regional priorities and concrete actions for cooperation," said the statement.

In an effort to unlock the tourism potential of East Africa, the first UNWTO East Africa Tourism Development Forum gathered regional tourism leaders and stakeholders to identify opportunities to maximize sustainable tourism development through regional collaboration.

Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto, who officially opened the conference last Friday, said tourism is a critical component of the East African economy and an important part of the region's common destiny.

"Our biggest challenge is to work together to improve every aspect of the experience we offer to our visitors, from their arrival at the airport, their movement within and across our countries, the accommodation and facilities that we offer, and the affordability across all income brackets," he said.

UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said the UN tourism agency maintains great confidence in the East African Community's ability to position itself as a leading tourism destination, by delivering one compelling, highly competitive offering.

"I wish to welcome the recent introduction of the East Africa Tourist Visa, which allows travel between Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, boosting regional tourism and creating opportunities for tourists to explore the diversity of multiple destinations in the region,"said Rifai.

The meeting, which was attended by tourism ministers of Seychelles, Sudan and Uganda, as well as senior officials from the ministry of tourism of Tanzania, resolved to further explore areas of tourism cooperation.

"The ministers also agreed to work towards further mainstreaming tourism in the agenda of the African Union stressing that the sector can make a key contribution to the peace and development objectives of Africa," the statement said.

According to UN WTO, Africa welcomed 56 million international tourists in 2014, representing an increase of 2 percent compared to 2013, and generating 34 billion U.S. dollars in exports or 7% of total exports in Africa.

The meeting comes as Kenya prepares to host UN WTO meeting in December this year to help woo more tourists who had abandoned the country due to increased terror attacks.

The December conference, which is expected to attract 6,000 delegates from 160 member states, will also showcase the dynamic development that is taking place in Africa. Enditem