On the eve of AMFORHT's international conference in Lyon, France, I participated today to the NGO's General Assembly and Board, of which I am a member.

The event was packed with news and decisions, many of them I will share with you in the days to come.

Beyond the meetings, I was pleased to meet AMFORHT representatives from all over the world:
From Africa (Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa), North America, Latin America, Europe, Ukraine... and of course the Middle East.

Among the Board members, we counted no less than Francesco Frangialli (UNWTO Secretary General - 1997 /2009) and Jean-Pierre Lozato-Giotart (Expert-consultant Culture & Tourism next to the European Council), only to name two of the most renown of us!

At the end of a long and busy day, Dr Belgat, AMFORHT President, concluded the meetings by mentioning that "this 50+ years old NGO is transforming itself to adapt to the challenges of this fast moving world, while keeping its 'raison-d'être', traditions, and goals by assisting and / or providing quality tourism and hospitality training and education to institutes, governments and other institutional bodies in need of assistance to implement a successful mid- and long-term tourism strategy".

Time to get some rest now before joining AMFORHT's International Conference at Institut Lyfe tomorrow!

AMFORHT is a UNWTO affiliate, and holds a Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC).