local tourism and hospitality sector players have welcomed the initiative by African Development Bank (AfDB) to support diversification of tourism business, saying it will help make the industry more competitive and attractive.

Commenting on the development, Osborn Kinene, the Rwanda Eco-Tours chief executive, said diversifying the tourism industry presents industry investors and other stakeholders, including communities surrounding tourism sites and national parks an opportunity to expand offerings and attract more visitors.

The move will also enable stakeholders and governments to tap into the undeveloped areas to boost the tourism business on the continent, he added during an interview with The New Times yesterday.

While speaking during the World Tourism Day celebrations in New York on Wednesday, the African Development Bank (AfDB) president, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said the continental funder was renewing its support for the tourism industry, focusing on projects that seek to promote diversification of tourism on the continent. The annual event is organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

According to Kinene, the World Tourism Day provides Rwanda and continental tourism stakeholders an opportunity to take stock of what is being done to develop the sector for the benefit of all, as well as "what remains to be done to unlock its full potential to create jobs and improve the lives of Africans.”

Rwanda Development Board projects the tourism sector to generate about $444 million in 2017, up from $404 million recorded last year.

The agency is counting on the continued tourism promotion efforts, as well as Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events and Exhibitions (MICE) subsector to achieve this target.

The MICE subsector is expected to earn about $64 million this year, up from the $47 million it recorded in 2016.

Meanwhile, Adesina has called for strong public-private sector partnerships geared at supporting and promoting sustainable tourism development in Africa.

He added that Africa’s tourism and travel industry can serve as an engine of progress for socio-economic transformation.

"In addition to its investments in tourism infrastructure (ports, airports, roads and rail, among others), the AfDB will support creative and cultural industries that have the potential to diversify the economic base to attract more tourists on the continent,” he said.

"We want to continue promoting regional integration, trade and investment by easing the movement of people, and ultimately promoting tourism,” Adesina said.

Adesina challenged Africa’s tourism and travel industry players to work together and bring up innovative ideas and initiatives that will help revolutionise the sector.

"Enhancing tourism through the cultural and creative industries will help boost the continent’s tourism business,” he said adding that the funder has, through various initiatives, given tourism development a new focus.

He added that the cultural and creative industries, such as textiles, fashion, food, culinary, arts and film present huge untapped potential that could help boost tourism on the continent, and create jobs and spur incomes of communities.

Last year alone, 1.24 billon travelers crossed international borders, a figure that’s predicted to spike to 1.8 billion by 2030 according to WTO report.