Sundaymail Editor
Ishemunyoro Chingwere
Business Reporter
The solution to African air connectivity lies in the ratification of the Yamoussoukro Treaty by the rest of the continent as well as full implementation of its provisions, according to Transport and Infrastructural Development Deputy Minister Fortune Chasi.
The Deputy Minister made the remarks at this year’s International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Ministerial Conference on Tourism and Air Transport in Africa, which ended in Cape Verde on Friday.
The Yamoussoukro Declaration is a multilateral agreement among 44 African countries that is aimed at boosting air connectivity on the continent through supporting the free exercise of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth Freedoms of the Air. This means an airline from one African country can simply fly into another’s airspace using a simple notification procedure.
It came into force 19 years ago, but its effectiveness has not been felt as its provision remain largely unimplemented.
The Zimbabwean delegation to the conference was led by Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira, Deputy Minister Chasi and officials from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).
Speaking to The Sunday Mail Business from Cape Verde, the deputy minister said it was disheartening that African travellers are still finding themselves going through Europe when visiting other African countries due to poor air connectivity.
He said the tourism sector on the continent will benefit immensely from intercontinental arrivals if the Yamoussoukro gets more signatures and is fully implemented.
Zimbabwe, under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, targets tourism earnings as one of the quick-win anchors through which the country can boost economic growth in pursuance of Vision 2030, which targets to achieve middle-income status in 11 years’ time.
“Forty-four countries have signed the Yamoussoukro commitment and we expect and encourage others to do so,” said Deputy Minister Chasi.
“Once that happens, I think we will be good to go. There is need for us to make sure that within Africa itself, we are able to inter-relate insofar as aviation is concerned; to make sure that we don’t go to Europe in order to go to Africa.
“It’s a very sad irony and this is why we have to open up our skies to each other and allow tourism to flourish,” he said.
According to a 2014 econometric study conducted by InterVistas, African nations that have liberalised air markets have benefitted immensely.
The study also notes that traffic flow is projected to increase by 81 percent, from 6, 1-million passenger movements to 11-million after liberalisation, an increase of 4,9 million passenger movements.
Addressing the conference, Minister Mupfumira said in line with the new dispensation’s quest to unlock the country’s tourism potential, Zimbabwe upgraded visitors from at least 25 countries from Category C visitors (visa before travel) to Category B (visa on arrival) early last year.
“We have 25 countries, whom we upgraded from Group C, which means you need to get a visa before going to Group B, which is visa on arrival and we hope to increase and make sure that our source market . . . comes into our country easily,” said Minister Mupfumira.
Tourism, together with mining and agriculture, are expected to anchor Zimbabwe’s economic turnaround.
Tourism has already began to take a positive direction, with 2018 earnings rising to US$1,1 billion; thus, setting a firm foundation for the US$7 billion target by 2030.
Online Reporter