Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa and Routes sign MOU

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

“Collaboration between RETOSA and Routes as strategic partners is incredibly significant and long overdue.

“Collaboration between RETOSA and Routes as strategic partners is incredibly significant and long overdue. It is our hope that this will help advance our advocacy role in aviation development across the Southern Africa region. We also believe that this initiative will enhance public-private partnership and engagement in all matters relating to air connectivity, accessibility and travel facilitation in our region,” said Simba Mandinyenya, Acting Executive Director, RETOSA, commenting on a new partnership between Routes and RETOSA.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on May 30, 2014 by Routes (part of UBM Live) and the Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa (RETOSA) indicating their desire to work together to improve air connectivity and travel facilitation to, from, and within Africa.

“Aviation is a vital catalyst for Africa’s continued economic growth as it facilitates business, trade, tourism and promotes sustainable development and Routes events are the meeting places that bring together the world’s airlines with airports and destination stakeholders to discuss and negotiate air service opportunities,” said Katie Bland, Director Routes, UBM Live.

“Therefore, RETOSA and Routes share a common goal, which is to improve air connectivity and tourism for Africa,” continued Mrs. Bland. “We are delighted that RETOSA will be supporting two of our forthcoming Routes events to be hosted within the SADC region: Routes Africa 2014 in Victoria Falls, hosted by Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe from June 22-24, 2014; and World Routes 2015 in Durban, hosted by KwaZulu-Natal Province from September 20-22, 2015.”

RETOSA is a Southern African Development Community (SADC) institution responsible for tourism growth and development. Their vision is to develop effective and impactful tourism initiatives in the SADC region in order to make Southern Africa a regional destination of choice by 2027.

RETOSA has 15 member states which include both Zimbabwe, the destination for this year’s Routes Africa, June 22-24 in Victoria Falls, and South Africa which will see the global aviation community arrive in force when World Routes 2015 takes place in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

By aligning closely with Routes, RETOSA is demonstrating its commitment to improving travel facilitation in the SADC region and they will play an active role in driving content for the World Routes Strategy Summit and World Tourism Summit at World Routes 2015. Routes are confident that this partnership will also lead to improved participation from the 15 SADC members, including Ministerial attendance at future events.

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Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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