Strengthening the partnership between Local Cities and Tourism Industry - A strategy for recovery from the Effects of COVID -19

 

Connective Cities is pleased to invite municipal actors to the kick-off event for the Virtual Global Exchange on Municipal Tourism Recovery from COVID-19 on Wednesday, 15th September 2021 from 16:00 – 18:00 CEST / 10:00 -12:00 EST.

The event is aimed at international municipal actors from local governments, civil society, business and academia who are working on the impacts of COVID-19 on the tourism sector and looking for innovative strategies for a post-pandemic future.

The event offers the opportunity to engage several urban practitioners and the tourism industry in addressing COVID-19 tourism recovery through peer learning and preparing potential proposals for soliciting funding. As a starting point, various scenarios from municipalities from five countries  - Nepal, Botswana, Cape Verde, Romania and Uganda  - will be introduced that present an opportunity to look at COVID-19 recovery from diverse perspectives. 

Participating municipalities: Namobuddha & Ghodaghodi, Nepal / Buzias, Romania / Freetown, Sierra Leone / Gaborone, Botswana / Praia, Cape Verde / Kampala, Uganda.

The event language is English and will be translated into Portuguese and Arabic. 

We are looking forward to your participation!

 

AGENDA – Wednesday, 15th September 2021

Time EST/CEST

Topics (tentative)

09:30 EST

15:30 CEST

Technical Check-In for Speakers & Participants 

10:00 EST

16:00 CEST

Opening Remarks and Introduction

10:15 EST

16:15 CEST

Keynote Presentations:

Case of Fairfax County, USA: How the tourism sector and the County work together to promote local economic recovery from the pandemic

Mr. Barry Biggar, President/CEO, Fairfax County Convention and Visitors Corporation, Virginia, USA

How Nepal is deploying a Smart Tourism Recovery approach post COVID-19 jointly with the local municipalities

Mr. Prachanda Man Shrestha, Tourism Consultant, former CEO of Nepal Tourism Board

 

10:35 EST

16:35 CEST

Technical Presentations:

Example from Fiji – The Blue Town Model and Circular Economy

Mr. Justin Hunter, Chairman/Special Administrator Savusavu/Labasa, Fiji

How the Local Municipalities work with the Tourism Industry – A case of Fiji

Dr. Kelly Bricker, Professor Tourism and Sustainability, Arizona State University, USA

How the Tourism Industry and local Municipalities are working together in addressing economic recovery – case of Vanuatu

Mr. Paul Pio, Manager, Shor Haul Markets, Vanuatu Tourism Office  

Presentation of a Research on Tourism and how municipalities and the private sector are working to address economic recovery in selected countries

Mr. Deepak Adhikary, CEO, Frontline Development Solutions LLC, USA 

Mr. Sumit Baral, Tourism Consultant, Laos, Cambodia and Nepal

Mr. Chhitij Bashyal, Researcher

Reflections on how the Tourism Industry is trying to find ways to recovery from the COVID-19 effects and how local cities can play a critical role

Mr. John Heather, Lecturer Arizona State University, Tourism Expert

11:30 EST

17:30 CEST

Panel discussion

  • Mamta Prasad Choudhary, Mayor of Ghodagadi, Nepal
  • Mrs. Yankila Sherpa, Former Tourism Minister of Nepal
  • Ms. Lilly Ajarova, CEO Uganda Tourism Board
  • Ms. Lily Rakarong, CEO Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana
  • Mr. Kim Nixon, Wilderness Safaris, Botswana

12:00 EST

18:00 CEST

Closing and Next Steps

Thematic Area