Harare, London, 17 February 2010: Africa investor (Ai), a leading international investment research and communications group, today concluded its prestigious 2010 Africa investor Tourism Investment Summit. The Summit convened over 400 delegates and over 70 diverse high-level speakers from both business and government.

The Summit was opened by H.E. Robert Mugabe, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and attended by leading Ministers, including those responsible for economic planning, finance, mines, transport and infrastructure development, energy, environment and natural resources, state enterprises and parastatals, to name a few.

The Summit's Leaders' Panel was chaired by Geoff Lipman, Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the UNWTO. The Panel discussed innovative partnerships with investors and ways to leverage the massive infrastructure investments already made in preparation for the 2010 World Cup in order to enhance Africa's attractiveness as a competitive international tourism destination.

In the dynamic Ministerial session, Ministers from across Africa including Zambia, Namibia, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast and Ghana, amongst others engaged in dynamic discussions about how the 2010 World Cup will boost tourism across the continent, and discussed coordinated branding and regional tourism promotion. Strong cooperation and leadership from South Africa was called for and welcomed.

The Summit also provided an opportunity for investors and financiers to listen to a carefully selected group of developers and government representatives pitch their tourism and infrastructure investment projects.

Africa investor's Tourism Summit provided a unique forum for investors and policy makers to discuss specific projects and set the agenda for tourism investment and job creation. As part of Africa investor's mandate to showcase success stories, the group also held its prestigious annual Tourism Investment Awards, which rewarded the brightest and the best from across Africa for their tourism investment related initiatives.

Commenting on the Summit, Hubert Danso, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Africa investor said: "Africa investor was delighted to host this successful and dynamic Summit, and continues to be at the forefront of engaging investors and government leaders to advance Africa's many investment opportunities and the continents' tourism investment climate and international competitiveness."

The annual Africa investor Pan-African Tourism Investment Summit and Awards are now acknowledged to be a must-attend event for all those in the African tourism investment industry.

Summit sponsors and partners include: The Government of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), African Export-Import Bank, African Sun, Meikles, Native Investment, Cresta Hotel Group, the China-Africa Business Council CNN International, Sister Cities International, The Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa (RETOSA), NEPAD Business Group, NEPAD, Modern Ghana, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Africa Project Access, Africa Travel Channel, TICAD/UNDP, Reconnect Africa and The Standard.