Rome –
The Africa-Europe Tourism Exchange Forum (AETEF), held at The Hive Hotel in Rome, delivered an impactful panel session under the theme: “Bridging Africa and Europe Through Tourism Exchanges: Challenges and Opportunities.” The engaging session was expertly moderated by Emanuela Scaponi, Founder and CEO of African People News, and featured a dynamic lineup of panelists who brought their destinations and perspectives to life before an international audience.
Simona Ottaviani, Destination Manager of Castelli Romani, captivated attendees with a visually rich presentation that showcased the allure of her region. Her passionate narrative, supported by an immersive video, had the audience longing to experience Castelli Romani firsthand—turning curiosity into instant desire.
Andrea Bellezza, Destination Manager for Tivoli and the Aniene Valley, followed with an equally enthralling showcase. With elegance and detail, he transported participants to the heart of Lazio’s historic and natural gems, illustrating why his destination deserves international attention and sustainable tourism partnerships.
Bringing Africa to the forefront, Tolu Adeshola, CEO of Royalties Leisure and Tours, spotlighted Africa using Nigeria, Africa’s largest and most dynamic tourism market. Her presentation struck a chord with the audience, blending facts with cultural appeal, and sparked enthusiastic discussions and inquiries about tourism potential on the continent. Her contribution highlighted Africa’’s growing relevance in global travel and tourism discourse.
Adding a historical and strategic lens, Paolo Cini, a respected tourism expert from Germany, delved into the long-standing ties between Africa and Europe, emphasizing the importance of collaboration. His insights bridged the past and future, suggesting ways the two continents can co-create value in tourism through knowledge sharing and cooperative ventures.
The panel session was a rich exchange of ideas, challenges, and actionable solutions—further reinforcing the forum’s overarching objective of building a sustainable, inclusive, and mutually beneficial tourism bridge between Africa and Europe.
Organized by Michelina Gabrie Sanquest of Globetrotters SA Ltd. (Europe) and Kazeem Balogun of Kalo Africa Media (Africa), the forum having in attendance, policymakers, investors, travel and tourism experts from Africa and Europe as well as stakeholders among whom were Distinguished Senator Tony lwobi, former Vice President, Foreign Affairs Committee of Italian Legislature (XVIII); Eloisa Piermaria, CEO and Founder of Easy Diplomacy; Carlo De Romanis, Responsible for Tourism Department at Forza Italia; Nchimunya Chisuta, Councillor in Charge of Economy for the Zambia Embassy in ltaly; Representative of the Embassy of Lesotho, Nigeria, Ghana among others.
The AETEF 2025 panel session proved not only informative but also inspiring—laying down the stepping stones for a stronger, more connected Africa-Europe tourism ecosystem.
