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The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) welcomed Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) as its newest member and first destination partner from Africa on Friday (November 23).

BTO joins peers from tourism authorities across North America, the Middle East and Europe to become the organisation’s sixth destination partner since launching the membership category in April at the 2018 Global Summit in Buenos Aires.

WTTC represents the global travel and tourism private sector and its newest membership category, destination partner, amplifies the voice of major national tourism organisations and destination management organisations from across the globe.

Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of WTTC, said: “I am delighted to welcome Botswana Tourism Organisation as WTTC’s first African destination partner. Travel and tourism is a vital part of Botswana’s economy, contributing 11.5% of the nation’s economy last year and sustaining 76 000 jobs.

“The inclusion of Botswana Tourism Organisation as a destination partner helps to broaden WTTC’s representation of the global travel and tourism sector, allowing us to more effectively advocate for tourism actors and key issues worldwide.”

Zibanani Hubona, acting CEO of BTO, said: “We are delighted to have joined this world-leading tourism body. Our membership will enable us to add a voice to the global call for sustainable tourism development, and for global community beneficiation to be top of the tourism development agenda.”

Source: tourismupdate.co.za