February 5, 2018

Somalia is located in East Africa, also known as Horn of Africa with the longest coastline of the continent’s mainland almost 3,333km engulfed with white and golden sands, and its terrain consists mainly of plateaus, plains and highlands.

Climatically, hot conditions prevail year-round, with periodic monsoon winds and irregular rainfall. Under the former Ministry of Tourism before the collapse of the central government of Somalia in 1990s, the tourism industry was traditionally noted for its numerous historical sites, beaches, waterfalls, mountain ranges and national parks, when the civil war broke out, the Tourism Ministry and all its operation disappeared just like many other sectors of development, but tourism was always intact in Somalia a waiting for its luck to revive one day.

In 2000s, the ministry was re-established with a very basic data and equipment, with no capacity of human capital and lack of

�1

13 September 2017 Somalia successfully joins UNWTO in 22nd UNWTO

General Assembly in Chengdu, China after securing a two-thirds

majority vote. It joins the organization along with

Comoros the 158th Member States and 51st

African country.

27 September 2017 Somalia celebrates

2nd year #WTD2017

World Tourism Day 2017Sustainable Tourism a tool for development #WTD2017

February 5, 2018

awareness of the value of the ministry and its essential uniqueness for the country in economic recovering and it’s attractions to worldwide.

In support of the tourism sector, Somali Tourism Association - SOMTA, a nonprofit making welfare organization within the framework of Somali government has contributed a lot to the industry with the concept initiated and pioneered by some learned and professional people in the field of tourism, this was as a result of realizing the important of tourism sites being abused either by locals or even by outsiders. In order to reduce this, SOMTA committed to create awareness campaign and promote the country’s ecotourism, the association majorly targets the former workers, experts and well informed juniors in the field of tourism into one network for both data collection, information sharing and even a better contribution in the industry.

In 2013, SOMTA gradually started in-house training, public talks for the young wait staffs who have suffered both from luck of capacity and knowledge in hospitality sector. Mid of 2013, SOMTA trained university students to handle events as part of REPORT ON WTD2016, Page 2 SOMTA September 28, 2016 SOMTA’s services. Whereas in 2013 till now, SOMTA has received official invitations to participate international conferences such as SORIC 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya, AHIF Addis Ababa 2014, Gorilla Naming Ceremony in Rwanda 2014, CAF 2014 in Luanda, Angola, Fitur in Madrid 2014, Within the year of 2014 SOMTA, organized domestic trip for the young professionals and government staff to overview the landscape at Daynile district and Jazeera beach tour. After all this significant achievements SOMTA awarded by the President of Somalia H. E. Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for promoting Somalia tourism and building the capacity of Somali youth.

Since then Somalia has been appearing in goal seats for tourism, remarkable being World Halal Summit in Abu Dhabi 2015, World Tourism Conference Penang in Malaysia 2016, Kilifi International Investment Conference in Kilifi County, Kenya

�2

Bari, Somalia, Photo Xaaji Dirir

Photo presented during #WTD2017

Gobwayn Village, where Jubba river Flows directly to Indian Ocean.

Photo by A.Haybe

Dhurbo & Mur’anyo, Bari Region, Somalia, Photo by; Mohamed Salat and the image presented during #WTD2017

February 5, 2018

2016. CAF Africa April 2017 at Addis Ababa where Somali delegates met with UNWTO Secretary General Taleb D. Rifai, and 16th June 2017 received an Official Invitation with the presence of SG, while latter in September 2017 Somalia attended 22nd UNWTO General assembly where Somalia admission was announced on Thursday during the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu, China after securing a two-thirds majority vote. In November 2017, Somalia attended Global Summit on Urban Tourism in Malaysia, the 2nd UNTWO/UNESCO on Fostering Tourism in Muscat, Aman December 2017.

However, SOMTA proudly organized and listed in the World Tourism Organization’s event list as Somalia officially celebrating World Tourism Day for the first time in the history 27, September 2016. In celebration for the WTD 2016, SOMTA awarded 6 young innovators for their achievement in promoting Somali natural view and tourism through the lens of the camera of photography, providing the best hospitality service, flower planting in Mogadishu city in order make the capital city clean and beautiful, activist in assisting disable people and the beauty of Somalia.

World Tourism Day 27th September 2017

Fully and jointly organized by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MoICT), in association with Somali Tourism Association (SOMTA), Jazeera Palace Hotel and Maamuus Event Management, the event attracted over 200 guests mainly from government officials, tourism stakeholders, civil society, youth groups, NGOs, disable organizations, universities, business people, hotels, restaurants, youth activist, students, folk dancers, singers, media and women organizations.

�3

#WTD2017 Event backdrop banner designed by Shumac with Mogadishu Monuments

#WTD2017 Event backdrop banner designed by Shumac with Mogadishu Monuments

Dhurbo, Bari Region, Somalia

Photo Mohamed Salat, Presented during #WTD2017

February 5, 2018

After the opening and welcoming remarks by Mr. Abdirahman Yusuf Aladala MoICT DG, H.E, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Abdirahman Omar Osman, praised the long way Somalia has gone in reaching such a milestone in Joining the UNWTO and promised while he is in office to develop the tourism sector “ I will tirelessly work hard to improve the tourism sector in a way we all gain from its diverse sectors”, on her side, H.E. Minister of Health Dr. Fowzia endorsed the potential role Tourism can take in development of every sector of live if well managed, and Mayor of Mogadishu and the Governor of Banadir Region Mr. Thabit Abdi Moahmed, promised to open a new office for Tourism in Mogadishu’s development as an urban city ready to receive tourist from across the world, and two days time, he a pointed new officer to spearhead tourism activities in the region.

The gathering full of young generation and experts in the sector, have all emphasized the development Somalia has stepped for the last years in raw, and the need to advance tourism as a development tool for long term peace and economic growth.

The event held at Jazeera Palace Hotel, one of best customer care hospitality service provider in Somalia, a long side with the beautiful hand craft items displayed attracted participants to buy hand-made-craft items to boost the income for the sales women and men in reflection of the theme 2017 “Sustainable Tourism as a tool for development” participants enjoyed the historic talks given, photos shared, and the hospitality of the hotel as well the roof breeze and peaceful environment with Young folk dancers entertained the participants performing traditional dances, singing to perform Somali traditional dances and songs related tourism and peace.

Mr. Yasir Baffo, SOMTA’s CEO and Advisor to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism received the Tourism personality of the year appreciation award gave a brief history

�4

Opening remarks by General Director for MoICT

Mayor of Mogadishu and Governor of Banadir Region speaking #WTD2017

Dr. Fawzia MoH

The Minister for MoICT, Mayor of Mogadishu and SOMTA CEO

February 5, 2018

on how Somalia achieved to join the UNWTO and informed the participants how important is to celebrate with the world on such global occasions like World Tourism Day 2017. “To all Somali people, particularly those present at this valuable event, welcome once again we are here in the 2nd year in a raw celebrating another but, most important theme for WTD2017, this shows how committed we are in creating atmosphere for peace and tourism. Today also marks a national celebration event for us(Somalis) in becoming a full member of UNWTO, this means we are turning all our minds towards development as the theme reflects and as we always keep saying, tourism is peace, tourism is development and tourism is the mother of economy for country like ours. As you know our country is fully of tourism, we want to benefit from it in the coming years ahead, and as we have been working on it for the past for the Somali Community to understand the value of tourism and how we can altogether protect and develop the tourism. We wish in the next year, not only we, but the entire Somali nation celebrating World Tourism Day, which explains the significant of peace and development. I wish you a happy anniversary; this is a year for tourism, and today is official day for tourism 27th September 2017. Happy World Tourism Day, “Sustainable Tourism a tool for development”.

Chengdu Declaration on World Tourism

Somali Tourism Association strongly welcomes and supports the adaptation of Chengdu Declaration on Sustainable Tourism a tool for development, Somali Tourism Association will consider spiriting this declaration to the tourism and hospitality stakeholders and especially Somali government to take an action and consider this declaration prized.

SOMTA Vision

Somalia is recovering and developing fast specially in the tourism and hospitality sector, due to that development Somali

�5

Awarded by the Minister of MoICT and Mayor of Mogadishu and Governor of Banadir Region

Mogadishu Traditional Dance folks

Hand-Craft items displayed during the #WTD2017

February 5, 2018

Tourism Association recommends the UNWTO to give somewhat attention if not full, the gradual significant development going through entire Somalia. SOMTA’s has recently established the first Somali tourism and hospitality institute named Somali Institute of Tourism And Hospitality (SITAH) and the main objective is to produce high number of skilled and professional Somali youth in the hospitality industry, hence reducing unemployment, extremism, illegal migration and human trafficking in-search for a better life in the abroad while increasing economic scale for many through the service industry.

SOMTA is also planning next year’s WTD to be a nationwide celebration by introducing a 2018 the year of understanding tourism a tool for peace and development which will take many domestic travel to all Somali regions and meet the regional authorities, stakeholders, civil societies and universities. In order to achieve that progress SOMTA will definitely need tourism experts, mechanism and technical support.

Conclusion

Somali Tourism Association (SOMTA) is glad to organize World Tourism Day 2017 in collaboration with Ministry of Information Culture and Tourism MoICT, Jazeera Palace Hotel, and Maamuus Event Management and create awareness among the citizens and international approach to lift the country.

SOMTA extends special appreciation to the UNWTO body for welcoming Somalia to the family of UNWTO also appreciates Somali government for bringing back peace into the country with the cooperation of African Union (AMISOM) peacekeepers in Somalia, as well the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism for their tireless contribution and cooperation for 2015,

�6

Barqash Palace, Adale District

Photo: Mohamed Otaanga

Banadir folks dance during #WTD2017

Participants during #WD2017 event at Jazeera Palace Hotel, engaged with different stories of Tourism in Somalia and how Tourism can develop Somalia

February 5, 2018

2016 and 2017 WTD celebrations, we also appreciate other ministries for their moral support, while our especially appreciation goes to Somali Businessmen and women and Somali diaspora for investing back hospitality sector and creating an opportunity for thousands of Somali youth with SOMTA’s team for their effort of keeping a live tourism and hospitality in Somalia.

�7

ReferencesReferences Extreme movement on social media (Facebook and Twitter), national and international media including BBC overtaken for the last few days broadcasting SOMTA’s celebration on World Tourism Day.

http://www.bbc.com/somali/war-41429367

https://twitter.com/engyarisow/status/912937867445497857

http://boramanews.com/index.php/somali-news/item/10579-somaliya-ma-loo-dalxiis-tegi-karaa-musuuliyiinta-dawlada-oo-xusay-maalinta-dalxiiska-aduunka-sheegayna-in-somalia-loo-soo-dalxiisi-karo

http://www.radiomuqdisho.net/xuska-maalinta-dalxiiska-adduunka-oo-maanta-lagu-qabtay-muqdisho/

http://somaliupdate.com/articles/10866/World-Tourism-Day-Tourists-are-Heading-to-Somalia-to-See-the-Ruins-of-a-Two-decade-Civil-War

http://radiodalsan.com/en/somalia-marks-first-world-tourism-day-in-27-yrs-amid-rising-interest-by-foreign-tourists/

Backdrop banner during #WTD2017 at Jazeera Palace Hotel