4-1206-Niche Markets.qxp - Travel World News

THE PROFITABLE WORLD OF NICHE MARKETS
ATA Gearing up for 32nd International
Congress and Marketing Congress in
Ethiopia in May 2007
An interview with ATA executive director Edward J. Bergman.
It may be only December, but it’s not too early
to start thinking about Ethiopia next May.
Ethiopia? May 2007? Yes. That’s where and
when Africa Travel Association (ATA) will be
holding its 32nd international congress and
marketing congress. What’s ATA? An international
travel industry association that’s been promoting
tourism to the African continent and intra-Africa travel
and partnerships since 1975. Its annual congress is held
in a different country each year to spotlight the continent’s
tourism as a catalyst of economic growth, and an
instrument for sustainable development. In 2007,
Ethiopia’s capital city of Addis Ababa will be the venue
for the event. Travel World News met recently with
Edward Bergman, ATA’s new executive director, for a preview
of the congress.
Travel World News: Why is ATA’s annual congress important
to mark on our calendars?
K I A L O D G E
K I L I M A N J A R O
I N T E R N A T I O N A L A I R P O R T
L A K E M A N Y A R A
e m a i l :
r e s e r v a t i o n s @ m o i v a r o . c o m
w w w . m o i v a r o . c o m
M O I V A R O C O F F E E
P L A N T A T I O N & L O D G E
A R U S H A
S E R E N G E T I
F U M B A B E A C H
Z A N Z I B A R
L A K E N A T R O N &
O L D O N Y O L E N G A I
Edward Bergman: Well, one
of our primary goals is to retain
and expand our membership
both here and in Africa.
For those who’ve attended
previous congresses in other
parts of the continent,
Ethiopia’s another very attractive
African destination
to learn about. And for tour
operators and travel agents
who haven’t attended yet, the
congress is a great “on-site”
way to experience how we
EDWARD J. BERGMAN
showcase ATA as the premier
African tourism marketing organization. Plus, we’ve
timed it around the same time as INDABA (in South
Africa), to make it easy to take in both events. We’ve been
working closely with our new ATA president, Ghana’s
minister of tourism, the Hon. Jake Obestebi-Lamptey,
along with Hon. Tadelech Dalacho, Ethiopia’s state minister
of culture and tourism, to make our 2007 congress
a “must” for travel professionals.
TWN: 2007 will mark ATA’s 32nd annual congress, and
your first as director – how will this upcoming one differ?
EB: ATA is only US-based tourism association to hold
annual congresses in Africa, and the 2007 congress in
Ethiopia presents an extraordinary opportunity to draw
from our association’s rich history and grow even
stronger. Not only do we have US delegates attending our
congresses, we draw African suppliers and tour operators
from around the continent — it’s a perfect weeklong opportunity
for serious — and actionable —networking!
Plus, the timing of it — during Ethiopia’s Millennium
celebration — adds to the excitement.
TWN: Can you provide logistics – dates, venue for the congress?
EB:The dates are May 6–10, 2007. Final program and
lodging details are still being worked out, but I can tell
you the program will involve rotating venues to showcase
Addis Ababa’s world-class meeting and conference centers.
Addis is headquarters to both the Organization of
African Unity and the United Nations Economic
Commission for Africa, which means a selection of excellent
meeting facilities.
TWN: How about getting there? Air access?
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
16 • TRAVEL WORLD NEWS • DECEMBER 2006