On 30th May 2014 Routes (part of UBM Live) and the Regional TourismOrganization of Southern Africa (RETOSA) signed a Memorandum of Understandingto work together to improve air connectivity and travel facilitation to, fromand within Africa.
"Collaboration between RETOSA and Routes as strategic partners isincredibly significant and long overdue. It is our hope that this will helpadvance our advocacy role in aviation development across the Southern Africaregion. We also believe that this initiative will enhance public-privatepartnership and engagement in all matters relating to air connectivity,accessibility and travel facilitation in our region," said Simba Mandinyenya,Acting Executive Director, RETOSA.
"Aviation is a vital catalyst for Africa¡¯s continued economic growth as itfacilitates business, trade, tourism and promotes sustainable development andRoutes events are the meeting places that bring together the world¡¯s airlineswith airports and destination stakeholders to discuss and negotiate air serviceopportunities," said Katie Bland, Director Routes, UBM Live.
"Therefore, RETOSA and Routes share a common goal, which is to improve airconnectivity and tourism for Africa," continued Mrs. Bland. "We are delightedthat RETOSA will be supporting two of our forthcoming Routes events to behosted within the SADC region: Routes Africa 2014 in Victoria Falls, hosted byCivil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe from 22nd – 24th June 2014; and WorldRoutes 2015 in Durban, hosted by KwaZulu-Natal Province from 20th – 22ndSeptember 2015."
RETOSA is a Southern African Development Community (SADC) institutionresponsible for tourism growth and development. Their vision is to developeffective and impactful tourism initiatives in the SADC region in order to makeSouthern Africa a regional destination of choice by 2027.
RETOSA has 15 member states which include both Zimbabwe, the destinationfor this year¡¯s Routes Africa, 22-24 June in Victoria Falls, and South Africawhich will see the global aviation community arrive in force when World Routes2015 takes place in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal.
By aligning closely with Routes, RETOSA is demonstrating its commitment toimproving travel facilitation in the SADC region and they will play an activerole in driving content for the World Routes Strategy Summit and World TourismSummit at World Routes 2015. Routes are confident that this partnership willalso lead to improved participation from the 15 SADC members, includingMinisterial attendance at future events.