The European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT), jointly with the European Tourism Academy and the Parliamentary Assembly for Sustainable Development Goals, is organizing the First Academic and Mayors Forum for Culture and Tourism – ‘WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM: protecting heritage and promoting tourism’, on the 16 to 19 January 2019, in Brussels.
The global tourism institution ECTT Forum aims to provide a unique platform to discuss issues and solutions for developing and managing tourism in WORLD`S CAPITALS OF CULTURE AND TOURISM cities in a way that promotes cultural protection, heritage and dedicates efforts toward economic growth, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
The First Academic and Mayors Forum for Culture and Tourism is unifying academicians, world leaders and local leaders in order to promote a better understanding and connections between tourism and local development.
On this occasion, at the proposal of Academicians Honorable Mircea Constantinescu-European Tourism Academy Director and Academician Ionut Costea, the Head of Government of Addis Ababa, Mayor Takele Uma Benti was elected as a member of EUROPEAN TOURISM ACADEMY in order to give voice to city tourism development projects and programmes and to offer his expertise to the world tourism body.
European Council on Tourism and Trade has succeeded in building world-wide instruments dedicated towards developing city tourism and protecting culture and heritage and offering to millions of the chance to escape poverty and live a dignifying life.
In order to continue this impressive trends the European Tourism Academy is fostering a global debate on the livability and sustainability of cities and is giving the voice to the essential stakeholders of WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM cities– residents, visitors, local, regional and national authorities and private sector in order to work together to respond to the current and upcoming challenges.
The European Tourism Academy seeks to promote the integration of tourism into the sustainable development agenda (with the help of the Parliamentary Assembly for Sustainable Development Goals) as well as to offer a platform to set key priorities and alliances to build inclusive and sustainable cities for all, a commitment which we hope to strengthen with the adoption of the WORLD`S CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM Charta on Sustainable Tourism.
According to the unanimously reached agreement of the Executive Board of European Council on Tourism and Trade a new name was added to the list of WORLD`S CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM: the city of ADDIS ABABA, capital of The Federal Republic of Ethiopia, host of African Union and host of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
H.E. Professor Dr. Anton Caragea, Head of EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON TOURISM AND TRADE announced also the global tourism institution decision to hail the President of F.D.R of Ethiopia Ambassador Sahle Work Zewde as the new Academician Honorary member of European Tourism Academy.
Addis Ababa as the next WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
ADDIS-ABABA is a world-class urban tourism destination, with tourism sites ranging from full heritage sites, including traditional palaces, churches, mosques and famous markets (Merkato, Shiromeda etc), to state-of-the-art architecture and museums.
Recent urban regeneration projects have seen a revamping of the green parks, protecting historical quarters and increased tourism interest towards ETHIOPIA as the winner of 2015 WORLD`S BEST TOURIST DESTINATION AWARD.
ADDIS-ABABA as host destination of WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM programme will feature its fair and inclusive tourism initiative in the conference programme, promoting the importance of building inclusive tourism for all.
WORLD TOURISM AWARDS 