In a press release today the World Tourism organisation (UNWTO) named Africa as the fastest-growing region for international tourist arrivals for the second year running.

The UNWTO has recently focused efforts in developing tourism in Africa and the Secretary-General Francesco Frangelli has declared that "Africa as a whole is at the heart of the UNWTO's concerns" while speak during the opening of the 79 th UNWTO Executive Council in Algiers .

The development of African tourism rests not only on well-established destinations, equally important is growth in emerging markets on the continent's tourism map such as Algeria, Botswana, Ethiopia, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal.

Algeria , for example, is now the fourth-ranking destination in Africa as it received nearly 1.5 million foreign visitors in 2005, growing 17% over the preceding year, according to UNWTO figures. As an oil-rich country, Algeria is an example for how tourism can ensure the distribution of wealth throughout the society, promote the development of poor rural areas and create employment for young people and women who need it, Mr Frangialli said in his speech.

The UNWTO’s is developing a number of initiatives for tourism in Africa these include:

• "Windows on Africa ", a strategic alliance with Microsoft, aiming at promoting African destinations through electronic means.
• Taking the opportunity of the 2010 World Football Cup in South Africa , UNWTO has liaised with FIFA to enhance the image of Africa as a whole.

The World Tourism Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the leading international organization in the field of tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and practical source of tourism know-how.