"African air transport cost remains a barrier to tourism growth" – Kagame

By Alice Kagina, KIGALI Rwanda

President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame said the high cost of air travel to Africa and within Africa remains a barrier to the growth of the tourism sector, which calls for the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

President Kagame with other delegates at the official opening of World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) 2023, on November 2. 

He was speaking at the official opening of World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) 2023, on November 2, which convened more tthan1,200 participants in the global tourism industry to recognize the sector’s growth across the continent in recent years and at the same time analyze its challenges.

The three-day summit, which kicked off on November 1, is for the first-time taking place in Africa, and it was hosted in Kigali, under the theme ‘Building Bridges to a Sustainable Future’, to discuss the resilience and sustainable growth, the growing impact of AI, and understanding new and emerging markets, as well as cover the key challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

In his opening remarks, Kagame said that in the commitment to rebuild from the horrific past nearly 30 years ago, Rwanda identified tourism as a key driver of economic growth earlier on, and the results have not been disappointing.

“Every year, we welcome so many visitors who come to Rwanda to enjoy the unique natural beauty, attend sporting events, or participate in gatherings like this. This is a privilege and a trust that we don’t take for granted,” he said.

He gave examples of conservation efforts to build a more sustainable future which have yielded in recognition of Nyungwe National Park as a world heritage site, adding that the country is also investing in the infrastructure and skills to host major sports events such as the Basketball Africa League.

While the travel and tourism industry has recovered strongly globally, Kagame pointed out that the high cost of air travel to Africa and within Africa remains a barrier and the implementation of SAATM is an important priority.

SAATM, commonly referred to as the unified air transport market aims at boosting the aviation industry on the continent by allowing free movement of airlines from one country to another.

“We should not lose sight of our own continental market. Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow at a fast pace in the decades to come. We must work closely together with partners, like the WTTC, to continue developing Africa into a premium destination for global travel.”

He said that Rwanda removed visa restrictions for citizens of every African country as well as many other countries, hence, inviting the delegates to visit different past of the country.

According to available data, Rwanda’s travel and tourism sector attracted $173 million in 2022 and it is forecasted to rise to 194 million at the end of 2023.

In a yet-to-be-launched report on tourism in Africa, it is stated that travel and tourism could increase Africa’s GDP to $50 billion by 2033 and create six million more jobs, however, this will require employing the right approach and galvanized efforts of investment.