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A global tourism meeting co-hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe came to an end here Wednesday with a pledge to prioritize tackling the problem of visa regimes and air connections.
The 20th session of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly, which started on August 24, brought together stakeholders in the tourism industry to discuss various issues affecting the industry.
Taleb Rifai, the organization's secretary-general, told a closing press briefing that the gathering prioritized the problem of visa regimes and poor air connections, especially in developing nations.
"For the next two years, we agreed to concentrate on tackling visa regime problems and air connections. Though no deadlines have been set for countries to tackle the problem of visa regimes, what we did is to share with the countries how much they are losing through stringent visa requirements," he told reporters.
The problem of visa requirements was also high on the agenda during a ministerial roundtable meeting of ministers responsible for tourism in Africa held at Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe on the sidelines of the general assembly on Monday.
According to a communique issued after the meeting, the ministers acknowledged that crossing international borders was a fundamental experience but expressed concern that complicated visa procedures have continued to impede tourists from traveling.
The ministers agreed on the need to speedily remove visa requirements and introduce other measures such as eVisas or introduce visa on arrival measures.
According to a study by the World Bank aimed at helping Africa boost tourism, airfares in Africa were almost 50 percent more expensive while charter tours were 20-30 percent more expensive compared to other destinations.
Rifai said the meeting further agreed to prioritize the issue of air connections, adding that the future of tourism development depends on having efficient air connections.
According to the tourism chief, the decision to hold the meeting in Africa came about because the continent's tourism has not yet been fully developed.
"The UNWTO provided an opportunity for Africa to upstage its tourism and to showcase Africa's development," he added.
The official, who has been elected for another four-year term, further lauded the two southern African nations for the wonderful organization of the meeting, saying the meeting has impacted not only the communities but the participants as well.
The meeting was officially opened in the Zimbabwean town of Victoria Falls on Sunday night by leaders of the two nations-- Zambian President Michael Sata and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, while the closing ceremony was held on Wednesday night in Zambia's tourist capital Livingstone.
