Africa summit to boost tourism

African tourism officials will gather in Cameroon next year for a summit aimed at attracting more tourists.

The 38th Africa Travel Association (ATA) Annual World Congress will bring together hundreds of officials to plan new tourism strategies for the coming years.

Africa's largest tourism meeting will see government ministers and charity and business representatives swap opinions on promoting tourism in Africa.

ATA executive director Edward Bergman said: "At our 37th Congress in Zimbabwe in May 2012, we brought together more than 500 industry professionals to explore how tourism, with growth rates in emerging markets outperforming more established destinations, is one of the most promising industries on the African continent for development.

"Building on this incredible momentum, we are excited to partner with our longtime member Cameroon to bring tourism professionals looking to do business in Africa to the country, where delegates will have the opportunity to build new connections, learn about the latest industry trends, and explore the country's newest products."

The 2013 event will be hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure.