UNWTO Ambassador of Responsible Tourism and footballing legend Didier Drogba helped bring the first Global Youth Tourism Summit to an inspiring close with a special masterclass for more than 120 young delegates.
Leading people from the worlds of gastronomy, sport, and business came together for three days of intense and engaging conversations to share their ideas for sustainable tourism as well as their own personal journeys to success, which culminated in the masterclass.
The Ivorian clearly explained the connections between tourism and sports, both of which have the potential to bring hope and opportunity for everyone, especially those in Africa, while speaking to young delegates from 57 different nations. Mr. Drogba engaged in an open and sincere discussion on a variety of subjects, including his own rise to prominence, the value of giving back through his own charitable foundation, and the critical role that tourism plays in fostering global unity, sustainability, and respect among sports fans.
“In my career, I was lucky enough to travel widely: from Lagos, to Shanghai, London, and Sarajevo, just to mention a few, and meeting people from different traditions was one of the things that brought me the most joy,” he said.
Working towards a common goal
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili added: “As a UNWTO Ambassador, Didier Drogba brings the drive and energy he showed on the football pitch to promoting the power of tourism for growth and development. Like UNWTO, Drogba is empowering global youth and so helping to build a more sustainable and resilient future for us all.”
In partnership with the Italian National Tourism Agency and the Italian Ministry of Tourism, UNWTO conducted the first Global Youth Tourism Summit (ENIT). It provided young people between the ages of 12 and 18 with a special opportunity to interact with tourism leaders in the public and private sectors and to acquire the abilities and information they will need to take on leadership roles in the future.