UNWTO kicks off

Zambian leader Michael Sata is on Sunday, August 24, 2013 expected in Livingstone to attend the official opening of  the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) being co-hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe.

President Sata is expected to join his counterpart Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls boarder town at the much publicized Tourism gala under the theme The Beat Is Here which is taking place for the first time in Africa. The official opening will be held on the Zimbabwean side while the closing will take place on the Zambian side in Livingstone town.

Meanwhile the UNWTO has commenced today and is expected to run for six days. About 4,000 delegates are anticipated to participate in the general assembly. The official opening will be followed with a dinner at Victoria Falls town while Committee meetings and other Special events will be in Livingstone.

Among the main items on the agenda includes the Regional Commission for Americas (CAM), World Bank Study presentations and the election of the President and Vice President of the General Assembly.

The Delegates are also expected to appoint the Secretary General who shall hold the office from 2014 to 2017 on the recommendation of the Executive Council. Upon arrival on August 22, 2013, UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai expressed confidence that the six days long event will be a great success.

The hosting countries are hoping that the conference would greatly help to boast their economies through the tourism sector.

The two countries shares the mighty Victoria Falls, a World Heritage Wonder that draws tourist from different parts of the World.

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