GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Dr. Brijesh Thapa associate professor in the Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management at HHP and the director of the Center for Tourism Research and Development has been invited as a panelist to the U.S. Africa Economic Summit conference. The conference will take place Sept. 28-Oct. 2 and will be hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa.

“This is the first time that tourism is getting its own track as a major industry player alongside energy, agriculture, health, etc.,” Thapa said. “These are exciting times for the tourism industry in Africa.”

Thapa’s session of the conference will cover tourism investment opportunities and will be moderated by Peter Greenburg, the travel editor for CBS.  Thapa said his goal is to speak out about the Center for Tourism Research and Development’s tourism initiatives.