The Sunday News
From Roberta Katunga in Harare
AFRICAN countries have been urged to work together to promote tourism in the continent as the region strives to attain a double digit market share by 2020 amid revelations that tourist arrivals are currently at 4,5 percent. Presenting solutions to the challenges bedevilling the tourism sector in Africa during the Sanganai/Hlanganani inaugural Ministers roundtable at the Harare International Conference Centre on Thursday last week, Tourism Ministers that included Engineer Walter Mzembi, Zambian Deputy Minister Patrick Ngoma, Mozambican Minister Silva Dunduro, South African Minister Derek Hanekom and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s Elvis Wa Bashara, agreed that the only way to promote the region was to work together.
Zambian Deputy Minister Ngoma said it was important for the region to have fewer barriers to allow the free movement of tourists instead of restrictions that hindered the growth of the industry.
“If countries go it alone, it will not be possible to achieve anything. Instead it is important for us to work together to achieve the double digit growth and market share we want by the year 2020,” he said.
The ministers described Africa as a sleeping giant that had the potential to awaken and become more visible and said it was important to grow the stagnant market share as other regions such as Europe, America and the Asian Pacific were doing well in terms of the global market share.
DRC Minister Wa Bashara said the biggest challenge that the region was facing was working individually whereas unity would strengthen Africa.
He said from DRC to Zimbabwe, there was no visa required but because he had to travel through South Africa, a visa was required and without the free movement of people within African countries, tourism would continue to suffer.
“Restrictive visa regimes deter the growth of tourism in Africa. Individuality remains our region’s biggest threat in tourism and we have to work together to achieve a double digit growth,” he said.
SA’s Mr Hanekom said there was huge growth potential in Africa but there was a need to change mindsets and see the massive potential in tourism growth and how it translates to job creation and improved economies.
He said there was a poor intra African air linkage with limited direct flights from one country to another with tourists having to spend as many as 20 hours travelling to a destination.
“The way we receive each other at our destinations is important because no tourist wants to be treated like an intruder when they visit another country. To grow our market share, the immigration system needs to change and everyone has to be more receptive.
We, as a continent, need to invest in infrastructure and improve connectivity within the region,” said Mr Hanekom.
Mr Hanekom said his ministry was working towards urging South Africans to holiday within Africa instead of travelling abroad.
Mozambican Minister Silva Dunduro reiterated the remarks by the other ministers and said it was important to encourage travel within Africa and urged the region to work together in promoting tourism.
Speaking on the sidelines of the expo, Ugandan buyer from Lake Kitandara Tours and Travel Mr Bonifence Byamukama said Northern corridor countries had begun marketing their destinations as a single block.
The countries include Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda as well as Tanzania, DRC, Sudan and Burundi which are yet to join the block.
“Marketing our destinations as a single block and working together has improved tourism. We would love to see that idea being embraced by Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi among other countries as it is easier to sell a destination that way,” said Mr Byamukama.
