Summit Day I
Monday
5 May 2025

 

Master of Ceremonies:

• Aradhana Khowala, Founder and CEO of Aptamind Ltd
• Paul Hoskins, Director, ITIC Ltd and Invest Tourism Ltd

 

09:00 – 09:45 Registration, Coffee & Networking

 

09:45 – 10:00 Guests to be seated

 

10:00 – 10:30 Opening Ceremony & Keynote

 

• Welcome & Greetings by Harry Theoharis, Former Minister of Tourism of Greece & Candidate for Secretary General of the UN Tourism
• Welcome Address by Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC & Former Secretary-General UNWTO (Virtual)
• Dimitris Skalkos, Secretary-General for International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hellenic Republic
• Keynote Address by H.E. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport (Video)
• Angela Gerekou, President, Greek National Tourism Organisation
• Welcome Speech by Hon. Olga Kefalogianni, Minister of Tourism of Greece (Video)
• Keynote Address by H.E. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece (Video)

 

10:30 – 11:30 Presentation

 

Greece: A Case Study of Successful Tourism Investment

 

Moderator: Rajan Datar, Presenter and Broadcaster, BBC

 

Panellists:

• Harry Theoharis, Former Minister of Tourism of Greece & Candidate for Secretary General of the UN Tourism
• Marinos Giannopoulos – CEO, Enterprise Greece
• Andreas Fiorentinos, Secretary General, Greek National Tourism Organisation

 

11:30 – 12:30 The African Perspective

 

The partnership between Europe and Africa seeks to capitalise on investment opportunities within the continent by fostering strategic collaborations.

 

Moderator: Rajan Datar, Presenter and Broadcaster, BBC

 

Panellists:

• Hon. Harry Theoharis, Member of Parliament of the Hellenic Republic, Former Minister of Tourism of Greece and Candidate for UN Tourism Secretary-General
• Hon. Fredson Bacar, Secretary of State for Tourism, Mozambique
• Ayomide Adeagbo, Special Assistant to the President of the Republic of Nigeria (Art, Culture and the Creative Economy)
• Hon. Nhlanhla Musa Nene, Former Minister of Finance, South Africa (Virtual)

 

12:30 – 13:30 GMT Networking Lunch

 

13:30 – 14:15 Panel Discussion

 

Exploring Smart, Sustainable, and Innovative Business Tourism Models

 

Moderator: Prof. Dimitrios Buhalis, Director of the eTourism Lab and Deputy Director of the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research, Bournemouth University Business School, UK

 

Panellists:

• Dimitris Manikis, President, EMEA Europe/Middle East/Eurasia/Africa, Wyndham
• Dr. Abisoye Ayoyinka Fagade, Director General and Chief Executive Officer, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR)- Nigeria
• Andrew Agius Muscat, Co-founder & Secretary General, Mediterranean Tourism Foundation
• Panagiotis Almyrantis, Director of ELLA RESORTS and President of the European Hotel Managers Association
• Dr. Ioannis Pappas, Director for the Mediterranean Region at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)

 

14:15 – 14:45 A Conversation between Harry Theoharis, Former Minister of Tourism and Aradhana Khowala, Founder & CEO of Aptamind, discussing the concept of Mission 100 for Africa

 

14:45 – 15:15 A Conversation on Visa and Air Connectivity Reforms: Enhancing Africa’s Accessibility on the Global Destination Map

 

Moderator: Rajan Datar, Presenter & Broadcaster, BBC

 

Panellists:

• Cuthbert Ncube, Executive Chairman, African Tourism Board
• Eric Dresin, Secretary-General, The European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association, ECTAA

 

15:15 – 15:30 Networking Break

 

15:30 – 16:15 Presentations for tourism projects pitching to secure investment

 

In a Dragon’s Den format presented by the BBC, a panel of experts evaluates entrepreneurial ideas and pitches.

 

Moderator: Rajan Datar, Presenter & Broadcaster, BBC

 

Panel of Experts:

• Prof. Dimitrios Buhalis, International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research, Bournemouth University Business School, UK
• Cuthbert Ncube, Executive Chairman, African Tourism Board
• Ibrahim Ayoub, Group CEO, ITIC

Projects to be presented:

• Nigeria – Samson Davies, Group Chief Executive, Signature Group
• Mozambique – Jeremias Manussa, Adviser to the Minister of the State Secretary of Tourism, Mozambique
• Namibia – Iingwapha Simeon, Acting Tourism Director, Ministry of Environment, Forestry & Tourism, Namibia
• Cape Town – Lee-Ann Singer, Director, The Singer Group
• Santorini Project – Luxury Residential Resort & Hotel – Omiros Emmanouilies, Group Chairman, Omiros One Architecture

 

16:15 – 16:50 Panel Discussion

 

Addressing the challenges and barriers women face in obtaining financial resources to initiate tourism enterprises.

 

Moderator: Aradhana Khowala, Founder & CEO of Aptamind

 

Panellists:

• Efi Koudeli, Regional Director Europe, ICCA
• Lee-Anne Singer, Director, Singer Group
• Amira Idris Ibrahim, Advisor to the Minister of Tourism of Nigeria
• Linda Fernando, Co-Founder, Criattus and Media Craft, Mozambique

 

16:50 – 17:30 Panel Discussion

 

Are ESG factors and resilience considerations essential prerequisites for investment in tourism destinations?

 

Moderator: Anula Galewska Co-Founder & MD Travindy

 

Panellists:

• Rika Jean-Francois, founder & CEO MissionRespo – Responsible Tourism Strategies, International Business Development; former Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Messe Berlin
• Paul Cohen, Co-founder & Partner, IE International Experiences (virtual)
• Constantine Venetopoulos, Director of Marketing, Variety Cruises
• Uduakabasi Sunday Joseph, Projects and Events Manager, West Africa Tourism Organisation (WATO)

 

17:30 – 17:35 Closing Session & Summit wrap-up: Roadmap for an Action Plan to be implemented.

 

19:00 – 22:00   COCKTAIL & GALA DINNER