Tourism generates 11 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP), employs 200 million people and transports nearly 700 million international travellers a year – a figure that is expected to double by 2020, and represents a great potential for sustainable growth and poverty alleviation.

Well used, ICTs in the field of tourism represent new opportunities, but also new challenges. Indeed, the Internet has stimulated the emergence of a new type of tourism, with travel consumers being more independent, and preferring to search for information and tourism opportunities online by themselves (consum-actors). The Internet is already the primary source of information on tourist destinations.

The E-Tourism Initiative is designed to help beneficiary countries take charge of their own tourism promotion by using ICT tools. This partnership-based initiative is centred on the development of e-tourism marketing built around services offered by SMEs, with support from Governments and the international community. More information on: E-tourism EN).

Thanks to the UN Development Account, a new project on ICT and Tourism issues will be launched in Western Africa. Planned over a period of 36 months, this project is expected to strengthen ICT awareness and e-business skills, competitiveness and better networking and clustering among local tourism stakeholders.