Spanish City of Málaga Wants To Be Africa’s Sustainable Tourism Mentor

African countries want to up their sustainability tourism game and are considering the example set by the City of Málaga in Spain.

This small European city, with a population of about 570,000 people and an airlift capacity of some 16 million passengers to its Málaga International Airport, believes it is best placed to school Africa on sustainable practices as part of its host bid for Expo 2027. But who benefits the most?

The Impact of the Urban Era

Málaga's bid to create "sustainable cities" through skills-sharing pilots with several African countries would roll out between now and 2027, if its bid is successful. The project hinges on its 30-year effort to transform itself from one of the "ugliest, dirtiest, and worst cities in the world" to the cultural and heritage tourism hub it is today, according to Málaga's head of tourism, Jonathan Gomez Punzon.

Home to some 650-plus global tech companies, Punzon said the city had demonstrated advanced sustainable tech initiatives, which he outlined as part of its proposed Expo 2027 bid project, and discussed during a ministerial roundtable at World Travel Market Africa held in Cape Town this week.

https://twitter.com/SeleneBrophy/status/1642838293405417474 Fundamental Challenges Facing Humanity

Expo, held every five years, was established in 1931, and themes focus on "fundamental challenges that face humanity," according to its parent body Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). It also selects host candidates from its 168 member countries.

Each member country pays a membership fee that varies but could be&nbs