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NewsTranscript
00:00 [ Music ]
00:15 >> Excellency Samia Sulu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania,
00:25 Excellency Prosper Bazombanzan, Vice President of the Republic of Burundi,
00:34 Arnold Donald, my friend, Chair of the World Travel Tourism Council,
00:48 Julia Simpson, my sister, CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council,
00:59 distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
01:08 I'm very pleased to join you to open the World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit,
01:21 the first ever Australia in Africa.
01:32 We are very honored by the presence here today of my sister,
01:39 Excellency President Samia Sulu Hassan.
01:43 Madam President, I thank you most sincerely for your presence.
01:55 I also thank the other countries represented here today,
02:02 especially from our East African region.
02:09 This is very important.
02:14 After all, when tourists visit Rwanda, they usually also have a stop in Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, or Uganda as well.
02:38 We are actually a single destination with attractions and experiences that reinforce one another.
02:52 To WTTC, I thank you very much for choosing Rwanda as the venue for this year's summit
03:07 and for the work that you and your members are doing.
03:13 You honor not only our country, Rwanda, but also Africa as a whole.
03:29 From here, Africa can connect with the rest of the world and vice versa.
03:39 Let me explain why this moment is so meaningful for us.
03:52 Almost 30 years ago, Rwanda experienced its darkest moment.
04:00 This was a place that people fled from.
04:20 A situation that the world looked away from in horror.
04:27 But we vowed not to let the past define us.
04:36 This meant building a nation where all Rwandans live in peace and dignity.
04:51 And indeed, beyond that, we imagined a Rwanda that anyone in the world would want to travel to.
05:09 That is how early on we identified tourism as a key driver of economic growth and employment.
05:22 We have not been disappointed.
05:38 Every year, we welcome so many visitors who come to Rwanda
05:51 and to enjoy the unique natural beauty, to attend sporting events,
06:03 and above all, to participate in gatherings like this one.
06:08 This is a privilege and a trust that we do not take for granted.
06:19 Conservation is a big part of our strategy to build a more sustainable future.
06:32 We are delighted that the Nyungwe National Park is now a World Heritage Site.
06:39 We are also investing in the infrastructure and skills to host major sporting events such as the Basketball Africa League.
07:01 Globally, the travel and tourism industry has recovered strongly,
07:12 but the high cost of their travel to Africa and within Africa remains a barrier.
07:25 Implementation of the Sino-African air transport market is, therefore, an important priority.
07:37 We also removed visa restrictions for citizens of every African country, as well as many other countries.
07:54 Let there be no mistake about it, an African can get on a plane to Rwanda whenever they wish,
08:12 and will not pay a thing to enter our country.
08:19 [Applause]
08:25 We should not lose sight of our own continental market.
08:35 Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow at a fast pace in the decades to come.
08:58 We must work closely together with partners like you to continue developing Africa into a premier destination for global travel.
09:20 I hope you will take some time to visit Rwanda before you depart, and that you will return here often.
09:35 I wish you productive deliberations, and I thank you for your kind attention.
09:46 [MUSIC PLAYING]