The United Nations Tourism Agency (UN Tourism) on Tuesday, July 22, urged African countries to harmonise their visa policies to facilitate continental air connectivity, noting that “cumbersome procedures and excessive fees are barriers to investment,” according to Lusa.
“Visa facilitation is essential not only to simplify tourist travel but also for business, investment, cultural exchanges, and regional integration. We encourage [African] governments to work together to harmonise visa policies and make them more competitive,” said Elcia Grandcourt, UN Tourism’s Regional Director for Africa.
Speaking during a working session at the 2nd UN Tourism and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Ministerial Conference on Tourism and Air Transport in Africa, held in the Angolan capital Luanda, Grandcourt stressed that partnerships between governments and investment partners “must address Africa’s connectivity and security challenges but also promote investments in tourism and transport infrastructure.”
“These alliances are essential to unlocking new investment opportunities in national economies. As we grow, we must also tackle the persistent challenges that limit transport and economic development: visas, cumbersome procedures, and excessive taxes on airfares, which become significant barriers to investment,” she underlined.
Grandcourt highlighted measures implemented by the Angolan government to develop the tourism sector, such as visa exemptions for citizens of 98 countries and the opening of the António Agostinho Neto International Airport, calling it “a milestone positioning Angola as a regional hub for air transport and tourism.”
She also praised the expansion of TAAG (Angola’s national airline), saying it “enhances connectivity within and beyond Africa,” and underscored that this progress “signals the need to accelerate implementation of the African Single Aviation Market and unlock the continent’s tourism and transport potential.”
She recalled that the first ministerial conference on tourism and air transport in Africa, held in 2019 in Cape Verde, laid the foundation for aligning tourism with transport development and noted that the sector is currently showing resilience.
“The current African sector shows resilience and growth and, according to available data, international arrivals increased by 9% in the first quarter of 2025 (…). This progress is encouraging, but it also challenges us to ensure that growth is sustainable, inclusive, and driven by strong policies and partnerships,” Elcia Grandcourt stated.
This ministerial conference, taking place in Luanda from 22 to 24 July, is organised by UN Tourism and ICAO and brings together African government leaders, aviation and tourism sector operators, and businesspeople.
Source: Diário Económico
