Morocco solidified its position as Africa’s tourism innovation hub Friday with the signing of a financial agreement establishing the continent’s first UN Tourism thematic bureau in Rabat, marking a significant milestone in the kingdom’s strategy to lead African tourism development.
Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor and UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili formalized the agreement during the 123rd UN Tourism Executive Council session in Spain, with Morocco’s Ambassador to Spain Karima Benyaich witnessing the historic signing.
The agreement operationalizes the first UN Tourism thematic bureau focused on innovation for Africa, defining administrative arrangements and mutual commitments under Article 5 of the headquarters agreement signed between the Moroccan government and UN Tourism in January 2025.
The bureau will advance UN Tourism’s 2030 agenda for Africa, positioning tourism as a development vector across the continent in alignment with King Mohammed VI’s vision for unified African action. This initiative represents a major advancement for continental tourism development, leveraging Morocco’s established leadership as an African tourism and innovation hub.
By strengthening cooperation between African states and UN Tourism, the bureau will support socioeconomic transformation of African tourist destinations through innovative programs. The facility will serve as a catalyst for knowledge transfer, best practice sharing, and coordinated policy development across the continent.
Morocco’s selection reflects its robust tourism infrastructure, successful pandemic recovery with record visitor numbers, and commitment to sustainable tourism development. The bureau’s establishment reinforces Morocco’s role in shaping Africa’s tourism future, providing technical expertise, fostering innovation, and facilitating partnerships that unlock the continent’s vast tourism potential while ensuring benefits reach local communities through inclusive growth strategies.