Latest news with #RodneySikumba
Zawya
16-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African tourism ministers unite to drive continental growth in 2025
Africa's Travel Indaba 2025 reaffirmed its role as the continent's leading leisure trade show, bringing together tourism leaders and stakeholders from across Africa to showcase offerings, forge partnerships, and address the industry's shared challenges. Held in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, the event was hosted by South African Tourism in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, Durban Tourism, and the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Durban ICC. The recurring theme throughout the gathering was clear: collaboration over competition. A united front for African tourism Eswatini's Minister Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, emphasised the importance of partnership-driven growth. "Partnerships and collaborations are very key in making sure that you take advantage of the other partner. We are not here to compete. We are here to collaborate." He noted that Eswatini benefits from tourists visiting neighbouring South Africa and stressed the importance of regional cooperation. Zambia's Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba, echoed this sentiment with an impassioned call for unity. "As African tourism ministers, we have a singular resolve to work as a team, there must be cohesion and strength in numbers. The days of competition are gone, we must support one another and showcase what makes us unique. Our cultures, our gastronomy, our dress — these are the assets that set us apart." Sikumba highlighted Zambia's expansion of visa-free access from 42 to 167 countries and advocated for open skies and strengthened regional air hubs. "We don't all need to reinvent the wheel — let's strengthen existing hubs like OR Tambo International Airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and Bole International Airport. Collaboration is the way forward." Regional partnerships driving tourism Mozambique's Secretary of State for Tourism, Fredson Bacar, cited the ZIMOZA Transfrontier Park — a joint effort between Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Zambia — as a successful example of regional tourism cooperation. He noted that around 70-75% of Mozambique's tourists come from South Africa and highlighted Mozambique's recent move to exempt 29 countries, including all SADC nations, from visa requirements. Angola's Minister of Tourism, Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, called Africa's Travel Indaba 'the starting point for us as Africans to address the barriers that still exist in creating a more boundary-less economy between our countries." He stressed the need to implement long-discussed open skies and visa-free travel initiatives, revealing Angola's plan to launch e-visas and e-permits by 2028. 'Young people from Africa don't understand why they cannot travel from Cape to Cairo without a visa,' Daniel noted, adding that Angola has launched its airline with ambitions to better connect African destinations. The minister announced a planned business-to-business meeting between Angolan and Zambian tour operators and upcoming collaborations with South African counterparts. Investment in travel technology and skills development South Africa's Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, addressed the travel and visa challenges impeding growth. She confirmed that 'visas and open skies remain the two biggest barriers to growth tourism in the continent', and said pressure is being applied through the African Union and AfCFTA structures. De Lille announced that South Africa is progressing towards an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, expected by the end of the year, which will simplify visa processes for global visitors using digital technology and artificial intelligence. Skills development was also a focus area. De Lille underscored the need for 'demand-led skills' training, while Minister Sikumba noted that Zambia has embedded hospitality training into its national curriculum to prepare its youthful population for tourism careers. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Unlocking Africa: Zambia's Tourism Minister advocates for collaborative travel solutions
South Africa's Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille, Zambia's Tourism Minister Rodney Sikumba and South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile at ATI2025. Image: Supplied Africa's Travel Indaba, the continent's premier leisure trade show, recently unfolded in the bustling city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, as a vital platform designed by South African Tourism in collaboration with various local and national agencies. This year's event reiterated its role as a gateway for African tourism products, creating invaluable market access for exhibitors to connect with both international and local buyers in an increasingly competitive landscape. During a Tourism Ministers Round Table conversation, Minister of Tourism for Zambia, Rodney Sikumba, addressed attendees, highlighting the need for cohesion among African nations within the tourism sector. "As African tourism ministers, we have a singular resolve to work as a team," said Sikumba. "The days of competition are gone; we must support one another and showcase what makes us unique. Our cultures, our gastronomy, our dress - these are the assets that set us apart as a continent." Zambia has recently expanded its visa-free access from 42 to 167 countries, showcasing the government's commitment to enhancing tourism and encouraging travel within Africa. Sikumba stressed the significance of "opening the skies" to enable seamless travel across the continent, proposing collaboration around existing flight hubs such as OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ When asked about the significance of events like Africa's Travel Indaba, Sikumba stated, "They're important because they show solidarity to our African brothers and sisters in South Africa and create a unified front to exhibit Zambia's unique offerings." He emphasised the importance of marketing Africa to its own people first before reaching out globally, saying, "charity begins at home." With 41 tourism operators representing Zambia at this year's Indaba, the minister aimed for visibility and knowledge-sharing, asserting that through observation and engagement, tourism operators can adapt best practices from other nations. Looking at the past year in travel, Sikumba noted that an influx of over 2 million visitors came to Zambia, with a significant proportion hailing from South Africa alongside key markets in the United States and the United Kingdom. Yet, he expressed a desire to attract more African travellers to Zambia, urging a concerted effort to promote the continent's natural beauty and cultural experiences. Zambia is renowned for its nature-based tourism, from wildlife encounters to cultural celebrations. Sikumba remarked, 'Anytime is a good time to visit Zambia," promoting the variety of travel experiences, including breathtaking safaris and traditional ceremonies. He noted the importance of curating personalised travel packages that allow visitors to explore the country's ten provinces. Addressing travel costs, Sikumba acknowledged that tourism often has the reputation of being expensive. However, he highlighted Zambia's participation in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which enables the use of SADC rates in the tourism sector. "We do have SADC rates in tourism," he assured, stressing ongoing initiatives to ensure that more services embrace these rates, ultimately making the continent more accessible to its residents. As Africa strives to unite for a robust tourism sector, Africa's Travel Indaba represents more than just an annual event; it symbolises the shared aspirations of a continent rich in culture and natural beauty. With leaders like Sikumba at the forefront, the vision for a collaborative future in tourism is clearer than ever.
