If tourism does not benefit communities then it will not be truly sustainable, asserted the head of a development agency at a symposium on Eco and Cultural Tourism hosted by the African Travel Association (ATA) in the tiny Republic of Djibouti on the Horn of Africa.

Africa needs "community benefit tourism" at a time when international aid flows are declining, said Lelei LeLaulu, president of Counterpart International and a co-founder of the World Tourism Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development.

"Tourism is the largest voluntary transfer of resources from the rich to the not-so-rich in history and it offers Africa a unique opportunity to harness the power of the world's largest and fastest growing industry to improve the lives of its people," he said.

Highlighting the economic power of visitor arrivals, he stated, "Remember, tourists from Britain, for example, bring, and leave, more cash on the continent than the British government gives in aid to Africa. And, it's the same for other rich countries, so we have to ensure African communities are able to harness this huge flow of resources to benefit its people," he told the ATA meeting at the swank Djibouti Palace Kempinski Hotel.

Underscoring the importance of tourism for jobs, he pointed out that the Kempinski, billed as Africa's "First 7 Star Hotel," and which offers special weekend getaways for US$1 million, was also one of the largest employers in Djibouti.

Speaking to reporters on his return from the January ATA meeting, LeLaulu lauded the Dubai World investment group, which built the Kempinski in just eight months, for their stated commitment to using their properties in ways which benefited African communities.

"Not only is Dubai World visionary in its earmarking of more than US$3 billion for tourism development on the continent, it is also seriously looking at ways of ensuring their properties will benefit the surrounding communities and the environment," he added. "They're smart because they know sustainable tourism means sustainable profits in the long run."

For more than 42 years, Counterpart International has given people a voice in their own future through smart partnerships, offering options and access to tools for sustained social, economic and environmental development.