UNWTO says it has actively participated in AFCAC's recent events, particularly the SAATM Pilot Implementation Project aiming to accelerate Africa's interconnectivity by 2025
The UNWTO has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the AFCAC in order to improve connectivity and advance seamless travel throughout the region.
According to a press statement by UNWTO, this agreement is based around shared initiatives, including the promotion of sustainable tourism and the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
The SAATM is a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063, an initiative of the African Union to create a single unified air transport market in Africa to advance the liberalisation of civil aviation in Africa. It aims to act as an impetus to the continent’s economic integration agenda. SAATM will ensure aviation plays a major role in connecting Africa, promoting its social, economic and political integration and boosting intra-Africa trade and tourism as a result.
The statement adds that this collaboration between UNWTO and AFCAC reflects the importance of boosting cooperation between tourism and aviation in order to create jobs and drive inclusive growth in Africa. UNWTO says it has actively participated in AFCAC’s recent events, particularly the SAATM Pilot Implementation Project aiming to accelerate Africa’s interconnectivity by 2025.
Advocacy and continuous communication to all stakeholders on the Single Africa Air Transport Market is a key element towards the operationalisation of the SAATM, says IATA.
Air connectivity from the African continent continues to remain a key challenge. As per reports by International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global trade body representing some 300 airlines which make up about 83 pc of world air traffic, if just 12 key countries in Africa worked together to improve connectivity and opened up their markets, it would create 155,000 jobs and boost those countries’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by more than USD 1.3 billion.
Kamil al-Awadhi
“Aviation contributes directly to the GDP in every country. It generates work and it activates the economy,” says Kamil al-Awadhi, IATA’s regional vice-president for Africa and the Middle East.
Recently, in the eighth edition of the Africa-Indian Ocean (AFI) Aviation Week, governments from around Africa had unanimously vouched for enhanced cooperation. The primary focus was on implementing International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) security standards, aviation safety, and sustainability measures.
Salvatore Sciacchitano
ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano had highlighted that the presence of “so many key representatives from States and international and regional organisations present at this meeting is a clear demonstration of the recognition of the importance of aviation to the sustainable development of nations, and of the need for all partners and stakeholders to work closely together to build synergies in Africa.”
He emphasised the pivotal role of aviation in sustainable nation-building, underlining the need for close collaboration among all partners and stakeholders.
Air transport does boost the economy as evident in other continents. According to reports, budget airlines can improve connectivity and cost, which boosts tourism, which then creates many more jobs. The poor quality of road networks and lack of railways in many African countries often makes air transport the practical choice for cargo too.
Even though around 18 pc of the world’s population lives in Africa, it accounts for less than 2 pc of global air travel and, according to the United Nation’s Environment Programme, just 3.8 pc of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is in contrast to 19 pc from the US and 23 pc from China.
There is also a growing middle-class who could potentially travel by air if the tickets were priced at similar levels to Europe or elsewhere.
Another vital aspect regarding enhanced air connectivity in Africa remains its air navigation systems. States agree to involve the African Union Commission in coordinating the establishment of a working group titled “Clear Skies for Africa.”
The African Union Commission acts as the executive/administrative branch or secretariat of the African Union and consists of a number of Commissioners dealing with different areas of policy. This collaboration aims to strengthen cooperative decision-making and prioritise digitalisation of services, marking a critical milestone for the region’s aviation infrastructure.
Acknowledging the significance of travel facilitation, UNWTO says it has also commended countries, including Benin, the Gambia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Seychelles, for offering free visas to African tourists, aligning with the shared vision of increased connectivity.
