Infrastructure key to boosting tourism

Lazarus Sauti

Tourism ministers from the Southern African Development Community say tourism growth relies on the development of appropriate infrastructure, which services the needs of a tourist and encourages investment in the sector.

Together with other analysts, they believe if countries in Southern Africa want to continue to grow tourism, infrastructure is one area that needs urgent attention.

Speaking during this year’s Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo’s round table discussions held under the theme, “Tourism: Africa’s sleeping giant – Towards a double digit market share by 2020”, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Engineer Walter Mzembi said SADC needs to invest in infrastructure and collectively tap into the tourism market share currently being enjoyed by other regions.

“Tourist arrivals into Africa have immensely grown since 1950 from 25 million to 1.8 billion travellers.

“If we are to tap into this figure, we need to address visa regimes and ports of entry within out countries,” he said.

Mzembi added: “We must deal with brand Africa and address such issues as hunger, poverty and diseases and have policy consistency as well as competitiveness so that we can benefit from this figure.”

Zambia’s Minister of Tourism, Patrick Ngoma said SADC countries must improve road infrastructure.

“Road infrastructure is important for the dispersal of tourists beyond major gateways. Therefore, there is need for all countries to join hands and not be inhibited by borders created by former colonisers,” he said.

Ngoma added: “There is need for our countries to join hands to achieve what we want.

“These countries, despite the fact that have borders, are all related somehow. Most countries are separated by water or roads, but they are the same people.

“If you go to Mozambique for example, you will find the Ngomas; if you go to Malawi you will find them and even in Zambia where I come from.”

These people need good roads as well as good air connectivity to travel freely.

Government sectors in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) require new investment in road construction, along with the development of effective signage and roadside rest areas.

Further, investment is also required in marine infrastructure, which can support the cruise market. The development of infrastructure to facilitate the growth in the cruising and charter industry is warranted.

South African Tourism Minister, Derek Hanekom, believes there is need to improve connectivity of destination.

He also said appropriate airport infrastructure is a basic requirement to attract suitable airline services.

“We need to improve on intra African air linkage which is poor and seeing limited direct flights from one country to another with tourist having to spend many hours travelling to a destination.

“As a region, we need to invest in infrastructure and improve connectivity within the region,” he said, urging SADC countries to urgently upgrade their airports as well as services to international standards.

Access to affordable water, energy and sewerage is also a crucial element of investment decisions.

Mozambican Minister, Silva Dunduro, echoed same sentiments and emphasised the importance of investing in infrastructure as well as to travel within the region.

“Mozambique offers the beach and wildlife which covers 2 700 kilometres and joining these offers with culture with Malawi and Zambia has been the best way to allow people to know each other,” he said.

Dunduro added: “Bringing our cultures and tourism together can increase the livelihoods and incomes of people in our countries hence the need to combine our tourism products.”

Cooperation among nations is critical to achieving double digit growth in the tourism industry and market share.

Further, private sector participation is of crucial.

“Infrastructure such as accommodation, restaurants, built-up attractions, tours and transport are primarily developed by the private sector,” he said.

He added: “The private sector will invest in tourism infrastructure required to service visitors, such as accommodation, attractions, tour product and restaurants, if basic public infrastructure is provided.”

Regional governments need to continue investing in development of appropriate infrastructure to make tourism industry competitive against other tourist destinations in the continent.