TOURISM and Hospitality Industry Minister, Barbara Rwodzi, has called on African governments to address poor air connectivity ‘as a matter of urgency’ as tourism is the upcoming industry expected to be the biggest contributor to many African countries Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Minister Rwodzi was making an intervention at the 2nd UN Tourism Summit for Africa and Americas held in Livingstone, Zambia, under the theme “Advancing Resilient Tourism through Connectivity, Investment and Skilled Workforce Development”.
The High-Level Summit stressed the need for tourism resilience building, attracting investment and advancing education and skills in the tourism sector. It also aims to enhance regional integration, drive economic growth in both continents and create a more inclusive tourism including the involvement of local communities, farmers and women and the youth in the tourism value chain.
The Summit builds on the success of the Inaugural Event held in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic in October 2024 and is being attended by Tourism Ministers from across Africa and the Americas, Government Officials, industry leaders and tourism experts.
Minister Rwodzi highlighted the notable progress in improving air connectivity which includes the refurbishment and expansion of three major international airports — Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, and Victoria Falls — to meet international standards.
“Victoria Falls Airport, in particular, has emerged as the largest and a key aviation hub within the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) region allowing large airplanes to land with tourists for Zimbabwe and the other KAZA countries,” according to Minister Rwodzi.
Minister Rwodzi also called for deliberate and strategic investments by African governments in national airlines to prioritize and strengthen intra-African connectivity.
Further, she highlighted Zimbabwe’s achievements in tourism development, with a strong emphasis on industry skills training, investment in tourism infrastructure — particularly in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) facilities — improved connectivity, and the implementation of more flexible visa regimes.
These efforts, she noted, are central to building a resilient and sustainable tourism sector across Africa and the Americas.
