DURBAN, May 3 (NNN-XINHUA) — Africa should remove hurdles that impede tourism growth and learn from one another’s best practices, South African Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom said.
Africa need to improve the sector through collaboration, Hanekom told the official opening of Africa Travel Indaba in Durban.
He urged more countries to sign the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), which was signed by only 23 countries so far, to drive down airfares by allowing in more airlines and increasing frequency of flights to more countries.
“We need to be united in our aspiration to build and brand Africa as a continent of successes and opportunity,” Hanekom said.
Africa should keep traditional markets and also target large and fast growing emerging markets, he said.
“We have the base of what the world’s tourists are seeking,” Hanekom said. “The seasoned markets of North America and Europe, and the rapidly maturing markets of China and India, are all seeking new and different experiences — different cultures, different heritage, different and stunning scenery and landscapes. This is what we have.”
He noted that Egypt has managed to attract more international tourists by improving safety in key destinations such as Sharm el-Sheikh and that Kenya’s tourist arrivals grew by 37 percent in 2018.
“Air Ethiopia must be acclaimed for bringing volumes of tourists to the whole African continent,” Hanekom said. “Visa relaxation also played a significant role in spurring Ethiopia’s growth, something again which many of our countries could learn from, especially South Africa.”
Africa Travel Indaba, which started on Thursday, will run through Saturday. Over 7,000 people from 60 countries and regions are expected to attend. — NNN-XINHUA
