Thursday, June 11, 2026

Intra-African air tickets 45% more expensive

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Intra-African air tickets 45% more expensive

Intra-African air tickets are 45% more expensive than tickets in other continents, stifling Africa’s demand for air travel.

During the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Global Summit, speakers described the high cost of air travel in Africa as a barrier to intra-African travel potential, as travellers pay higher ticket prices and more tax to board a commercial aircraft.

The African Airlines Association 2021 report found that passengers in Africa pay about US$50 (R926) in taxes compared with US$30,25 (R560) in Europe and US$29,65 (R549) in the Middle East for the same length of journey.

“It is often cheaper to fly to another continent than to another African country,” officials agreed.

Speakers at the high-profile event – including heads of state, business executives, and travel experts – said a lack of infrastructure, stringent limitations on airspace and a lack of collaboration hindered intra-Africa air travel.

Massive cost discrepancies

To illustrate their point, they analysed the difference of the cost of an air ticket from Berlin to Istanbul and Kinshasa to Lagos. Despite the flights being of similar distance, Berlin-Istanbul’s direct three-hour flight comes in at a mere US$150 (R2 780) compared with Kinshasa-Lagos, which would cost between US$500 (R9 265) and US$850 (R15 745), and take up to 20 hours.

Additionally, a flight from Entebbe to Mombasa (916km) will cost up to $200 (R3 705), almost eight times the cost of flying the same distance in Europe.

“This makes doing business within Africa incredibly difficult and expensive,” said Kamil al Awadhi, Iata’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East.

While Africa makes up 18% of the world’s population, it accounts for less than 2% of global air travel.

According to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the inflated cost of air travel within and to Africa will act as an inhibitor to the growth of its tourism sector.

Among other reasons, Kagame believes the failure to implement the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), an African Union-approved call to unite the continent’s skies and promote values of collaborative aviation, has contributed to this.

SAATM expected to improve air traffic

SAATM is expected to improve air traffic and contribute to the growth of African economies, however only 34 of 55 AU member states have signed it. Upon consensus, SAATM will open avenues for better communication and co-operation between countries so that they can find a way to market the continent as a single tourist destination.

Kagame called on African states to liberalise their airspace as a way to unlock the potential that the continent possessed in the travel and tourism sector. Along with the liberalisation of airspace, countries will still need to abolish prevalent visa restrictions to ease the movement of people. Kagame said many countries were reluctant to implement open-skies policies as they needed more capital to run their aviation facilities and use passenger charges and taxes to make up for it.

Taxes on airline operations range from common-use terminal and jetway charges to noise, landing, parking, passenger bus, firefighting, and lighting, which are a huge financial burden.

Fastjet Zimbabwe Increases Flight Frequency from Bulawayo to Johannesburg

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Fastjet Zimbabwe Increases Flight Frequency from Bulawayo to Johannesburg

Fastjet Zimbabwe, one of the leading African airlines, has increased the frequency of its flights from the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo (JMN) International Airport in Bulawayo to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, by adding a double daily service to the schedule. This brings the flights from Bulawayo to Johannesburg to 12 Fastjet flights a week, while Victoria Falls to Johannesburg are 14 flights a week and Harare to Johannesburg are 30 flights a week.

A maiden flight touched down at the JMN international airport on Monday just before 9am and was welcomed by a water cannon salute which is a mark of respect. Senior Government officials led by the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Barbra Rwodzi welcomed the flight before embarking on a return flight to OR Tambo where the Minister was the guest hostess of the flight.

Speaking to the guests at the dinner, Minister Rwodzi highlighted the symbiotic relationship between tourism and aviation saying the two were inseparable. “The relationship is symbiotic because one cannot do without the other, they are indeed inseparable. The Air Connectivity from one place to another is the cornerstone and the key enabler which our Zimbabwe tourism industry heavily relies upon as we aim at achieving a US$5 Billion Tourism Economy by 2025. On average 45 percent of our annual visitors from the African continent come from South Africa and this therefore means with this additional frequency, we are most likely to receive an increased inflow of tourists into the country through the Fast Jet flights.”

“However, this means more work for us as a Ministry of Tourism on our mandate to develop all tourism destinations in and around Bulawayo to become more and more attractive to tourists for this route to be sustainable, and i am happy to announce that Bulawayo and Masvingo are the two cities alongside with Matopos National Park we are targeting to put more effort on development within our strategy as they are the best destinations where our culture and heritage is significantly bestowed,” said Minister Rwodzi.

Earlier in March this year, the company introduced new domestic routes from Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to Kariba and Hwange National Park as part of its expansion projects. The development is testimony that the Government’s commitment to implement the Open Skies Policy continues to bear fruit.

This comes after earlier this month, South Africa’s low cost airline, FlySafair began its first maiden flights into the Harare from Johannesburg after obtaining all the requisite regulatory approvals. The sector has also witnessed improved infrastructure and flexible policies.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development through the Airport Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) completed the first phase of upgrading the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport into a modern international airport, able to handle over 6 million passengers from the 1.5million passengers handled before the upgrade.

The increase in flight frequency between Bulawayo and Johannesburg is a positive development for the tourism industry in Zimbabwe. The additional flights will make it easier for tourists to visit the country and will also help to boost the economy. The Government’s commitment to implementing the Open Skies Policy is also a positive development, as it will encourage more airlines to operate in Zimbabwe.

UNWTO gives Zimbabwe a major educational boost

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UNWTO gives Zimbabwe a major educational boost

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has granted Zimbabwean learners 100 scholarships from IE University, the UNWTO’s online tourism academy.The scholarships were awarded through the First Lady of Zimbabwe, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, in recognition of her commitment to strengthening high-quality education in tourism.

In awarding the scholarships at the Zimbabwe stand on the side lines of the recent eighth UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism, in San Sebastián, Spain, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili showed appreciation of Zimbabwean food and beverages.

Mnangagwa was also recognised for “championing gastronomy tourism” in the country and region by Pololikashvili at the forum

Customers Do Not Require A Visa To Travel Between Ghana & South Africa

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Customers Do Not Require A Visa To Travel Between Ghana & South Africa

Johannesburg (Wednesday, 18th October 2023) – South African Airways (SAA) notes with delight that South African and Ghanaian travelers do not need visas when travelling to one another’s countries.

This follows the implementation of a visa waiver agreement between the governments of South Africa and Ghana for ordinary passport holders, commencing on 1 November 2023.

This means travelers may transit through, depart, and stay in the territory of both countries for a cumulative period of up to 90 days without having to apply a visa. If the period of 90 days is exhausted within a 12-month period, passport holders will have to apply for a visa to enter South Africa.

SAA flies between Johannesburg and Accra 3 times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

SAA interim CEO, Professor John Lamola, who is also the recently elected deputy chairperson of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa’s (AASA), says, “The move is good news for the promotion of intra-African connectivity and the development of tourism and trade on the continent. Making possible the ease of travel within Africa is aligned with the call by AASA, amongst other industry bodies.”

With SAA’s direct flights, both South African and Ghanian travelers can look forward to spending time in both countries that boasts rich forestry, beautiful sandy beaches, abundant wildlife, and rich cultural experiences. To book your flights log onto  www.flysaa.com

World Heritage Group Clears $5 Billion Dam Near Victoria Falls

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World Heritage Group Clears $5 Billion Dam Near Victoria Falls
  • Project lies downstream of Victoria Falls World Heritage Site
  • Zambia, Zimbabwe want to develop Batoka to end power outages

An agency of the United Nations has cleared Zambia and Zimbabwe to build a $5 billion hydropower dam downstream from Victoria Falls, a Unesco World Heritage Site, the authority overseeing its construction said.

The 2 400 megawatt Batoka Gorge project, 47 kilometres from the world’s largest waterfall, has been opposed by environmentalists because of the potential impact it would have on the cataract, a key tourist site for both countries, that spans the Zambezi River.

Unesco “sent inspectors in 2022 after complaints by some environmentalists that the Batoka project was going to affect the Victoria Falls,” Munyaradzi Munodawafa, chief executive officer of the Zambezi River Authority, said in an interview. They “looked at the reports and our presentations and agreed that Batoka could go ahead” at a meeting of the World Heritage Committee last month, he said.

Construction of the 181-metre (594-foot) high wall and power plants by a group led by General Electric Co, and China’s Power Construction had been expected to start in 2020 but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and funding concerns. Both Zambia and Zimbabwe, who already share the Kariba hydropower facility further east on the Zambezi, at times have struggled to meet their power needs.

“Now we are good to go” said Munodawafa. “We are on solid ground and by end of next month, I will have an actual date of commencement.”

Unesco didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The African Development Bank is the lead arranger for the financing of Batoka, which has been designed as a run-of-river project, meaning that there will be little storage of water behind the turbines, minimizing the impact on the Victoria Falls.

Still, there are tensions over the project between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In June Peter Kapala, Zambia’s energy minister, said his country plans to exit the agreement with GE and Power Construction because it was too expensive and a smaller plant could be more appropriate.

Munodawafa also said the $130 million rehabilitation of a plunge pool below the wall of the Kariba dam, which holds back the world’s biggest artificial reservoir, is expected to be completed by early 2025.

Further downstream, in Mozambique, the AfDB is also advising on the $4.5 billion, 1 500-megawatt Mphanda Nkuwa hydropower project.

Africa Tourism Leadership Forum (ATLF): Highlights from the Event

Miriro Matema
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Africa Tourism Leadership Forum (ATLF): Highlights from the Event

Hundreds of tourist industry players from 42 nations are due to conclude discussions on breaking down barriers in the sector at the Africa Tourism Leadership Forum in Gaborone, Botswana.

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The sixth tourism forum, which began with a masterclass session on Tuesday, will today focus on forging public-private sector partnerships to thoughtfully leverage concessions for tourism development in African communities, as well as tough talk about intra-Africa connectivity and travel costs.

“The cost of a ticket between Lome and Accra … when you add the government taxes and all, you then end up with about a ticket of about 400 dollars for a 15-minute flight, so what we are proposing is that these types of flights, internally, should be considered domestic, rather than international flights.”

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Beatrice Chaytor – Head of Division, Trade in Services DTIID, AfCFTA Secretariat says to mitigate the cost of air travel in Africa some short flights from one country to another, currently classified as international flights, should be considered domestic flights.

Sub-Saharan Africa alone has the potential to create 3.8 million new jobs development, emphasizing its importance in the region over the next development.

The Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) have also emerged as vital economic drivers, generating up to $2.250 trillion in global revenues annually and employing nearly 30 million people worldwide, primarily youth.

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Services now account for 87% of total female employment in high-income countries (up from 80% in 2000), 62% in upper-middle-income countries (up from 40%), 43% in lower-middle-income countries (up from 29%), and 30% in low-income countries (up from 19%). This report finds that 54% of people employed in tourism worldwide are women. Women form an integral part of CCIs in Africa.

6th Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards Breaks Another Record of Success

Miriro Matema
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6th Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards Breaks Another Record of Success

Hosted by the Government of Botswana through the Botswana Tourism Organisation in collaboration with Africa Tourism Partners, UNWTO and AfCFTA, the 6th Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards was a resounding success. Held from 04 to 06 October at the Grand Palm International Convention Centre in Gaborone Botswana, Intra-Africa Travel and Business preceded ATLF 2023 to Business Exchange meetings, Women in Tourism and Tourism Entrepreneurship Masterclasses that UNISA and international MICE knowledge partners delivered.

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As part of the ATLF 2023 success story, it is worth noting that the AfCFTA hosted inaugural AfCFTA Forum on Tourism, Creatives, and Cultural Industries simultaneously with the Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards 2023.

The AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services is a platform that celebrates dynamic sectors, recommend solutions and advances Africa’s economic competitiveness through sustainable tourism and cultural development and seeks to ignite intra-African trade and empowerment, reinforcing a unified vision for a culturally enriched Africa.

Officially opened His Honour, the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, Mr Slumber Tsogwane, UNWTO Secretary General- Zurab Pololikashvili, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Hon. Philda Nani Kereng and H.E. Elias Mpedi Magosi, SADC Executive Secretary, the Forum was attended by Pan-African and globally renowned travel and tourism industry thought-leaders, policymakers, investors and key stakeholders. Over 700 physical and over 1200 virtual delegates over three (3) days from over 42 countries attended ATLF 2023.

Hon. Mmusi Kgafela and Mr Kwakye Donkor
Hon. Mmusi Kgafela and Mr Kwakye Donkor

Among the lead partners are BDO, Millvest Advisory, Industry Development Corporation (IDC), Marriott International, Protea Hotel Gaborone Masa Square, ICCA, South Africa Airways, Air Link, Avani Gaborone Resort & Casino, Hilton Garden Inn Gaborone, Grandeur Rentals.

Over 78 renowned faculty members delivered transformational speeches interactive panel discussions, and insightful presentations, Shabnam Vadachia, South African Airways, Manager Market South Africa had this to say, “The event was of an exceptionally high standard, akin to those I have attended on a global stage. My special commendation is to the young lady who managed the time and coordination of the program, she was in my books, your unsung heroine as it’s never easy to time-keep a huge event and she did a stellar job”.

Emily Mburu Ndoria
Emily Mburu-Ndoria, Director Trade in Services, Investment, IPR and Digital Trade,
AfCFTA Secretariat

About 30 buyers and tourism associations from across the globe participated at the event. Zaim Muhammad, Travel & Tourism Consultant from Dubai echoed his sentiments about the Forum. “ATLF gave me substantial experience. Since I am already promoting Africa as a Destination in the Middle East, my meetings with the African key players have enhanced my relationship and it will take us to the long-term collaboration. It has given more insights to highlight the divers and unique tourism offerings in Africa with a focus on the cultural, historical, and natural attractions”.

More than 20 international and continental media houses provided coverage of the event. The media houses include BBC News, SABC, Botswana Broadcasting Corporation, Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, Tanzania Safari Channel, TV3 Ghana, Newzroom Africa, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Business Events Africa, Africa.com, ATA, Voyages Afriq, Channel Africa, ATC News, Gallivant Africa, WeniGlam Travel Magazine, Daily Southern and East Africa Tourism Update and Jet Sanza,

For more information about ATLF 202 click here. To register and join the Africa Tourism Innovation Hub click here or +27 (0)81 303 7030 or [email protected]

Angola takes ‘positive step’ with visa-free entry

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Angola takes ‘positive step’ with visa-free entry

Angola’s recently passed resolution to allow 98 countries visa-free entry has been well received as “a positive step in the right direction” for tourism growth on the continent and abroad.

The new resolution allows a 90-day visa-free stay in Angola to anyone arriving exclusively for tourism purposes.

For other types of visas, such as work, study, medical treatment or residence permits, foreign citizens must apply through formal channels.

The southern Africa nation listed Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, the US, Russia and China as its priority foreign countries.

Fourteen African nations are on the list of visa-free beneficiaries, namely Tanzania, Eswatini, Morocco, Lesotho, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles, Cape Verde and Algeria.

Asia has eleven countries on the visa-exempt list – Israel, UAE, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Timor-Leste and China.

Europe has 35 countries on the list, including Turkey, Russia, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, the Vatican State, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Hungary, the Netherlands, Monaco, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Great Britain and Ireland.

Other European nations on the list are Norway, Estonia, Finland, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovakia, France, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Cyprus, Slovenia, Iceland, Italy and Portugal.

In the Americas, the countries listed are the US, Mexico, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Panama, Uruguay and Brazil.

From the Oceania region, the countries are Fiji, Australia, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Niue Island.

In the Caribbean and Pacific region, 16 countries were selected. These are Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Cook Islands, Jamaica, Kiribati and Dominican Republic.

Also exempted are Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The new directive takes effect immediately.

Positive step in the right direction

Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, and Interim Chair of the Southern African Development Community Business Council Tourism Alliance, told Tourism Update that the move by Angola was a positive step in the right direction.

“Countries like Mozambique, South Africa, Seychelles, Kenya, and Ghana have reported remarkable increases in tourism figures [since allowing visa-free access to certain countries].”

He said barriers to visa liberalisation in southern Africa still remained and encompassed security concerns, administrative capacity constraints, and divergent visa policies among the SADC member states.

“For tourists, this lack of a harmonised policy framework exacerbates the process of implementing streamlined visa procedures,” said Tshivhengwa.

Progress made on SADC Univisa

A significant aspect of the SADC Tourism Programme is the SADC Univisa, which aims to simplify visa processes and streamline visitor movement within the region. By doing so, it encourages cross-border tourism, economic growth, and an enhanced visitor experience. 

“The SADC Tourism Programme identifies the harmonisation of tourism policies and regulations among SADC Member States as another vital initiative. By promoting the standardisation of policies, the programme seeks to create a more unified and appealing tourism environment in the region, enabling hassle-free travel and fostering cross-border collaboration,” said Tshivhengwa.

He revealed that the SADC Univisa project was being piloted by five member states: Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. 

“The project is making good progress, and a mission to assess visa technologies, a legal framework and revenue-sharing models, and processes have been carried out in these member states,” said Tshivhengwa.

He added that the SADC Business Council Tourism Alliance further supported the secretariat with training for immigration officials to foster a tourist-friendly environment at border posts.

“Visa liberalisation has been shown to have a positive impact on tourism destinations, given that it is one way that African countries can overcome some of the challenges they face in attracting tourists, including the vast distances, nascent infrastructure development, infrequent flight schedules, and high cost of travel,” concluded Tshivhengwa.

Luxury tented camp opens in Zambia

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Luxury tented camp opens in Zambia

Nuyanaya River Camp, a brand-new luxury tented camp on the banks of the Zambezi River, near the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia, will welcome its first guests this month.

The camp, managed by Lieana Swanepoel, features five tented rooms that can accommodate up to 14 people as the family-friendly tents offer the flexibility to accommodate additional guests. Each room offers views of the Zambezi.

There are spacious decks and Jacuzzis in each room; four rooms are equipped with baths and one with a shower. Facilities include a spa, a communal main area for meals, and private boma areas for each room.

Activities include fishing, sunrise and sunset boat cruises, day trips to the Lower Zambezi National Park, and cultural village tours.

Nuyanaya River Camp is located on the Zambezi River, a 45-minute drive downstream from Chirundu, towards the Lower Zambezi National Park.

New focus for iconic Zambian lodge

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New focus for iconic Zambian lodge

Ultra Properties, which manages The River Club in Livingstone, Zambia, recently announced the closure of the property as a lodge, effective January 1, 2024.

The River Club property was passed on to new owners on December 1 last year, and they have now decided to refocus the use of the property.

“The Ultra Properties team is now able to focus on and dedicate itself to current and future ventures in Livingstone. We have exciting projects in development and will update our followers as we create totally unique and magical new experiences for guests. Our management team will continue to offer our usual friendly and professional services in the same spirit as before,” said Mark McCormick, MD of Ultra Properties.

He reassured guests and trade partners who are holding reservations in 2024 that the company would be in touch to offer alternative arrangements for accommodation.

He added that existing and any new bookings for the remainder of 2023 would continue as usual until the end of the year.

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