South Africa is pressing on African governments to as a matter of urgency, implement the Yamoussoukro declaration concerning the liberalisation of access to air transport markets in Africa.

The South African Tourism Minister, Marthinus Christoffel Johannes van Schalkwyk, said opening up the airline industry will help create more jobs and promote economic activity on the continent.

African Ministers in charge of civil aviation at a meeting in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire on November 13 and 14, 1999 among others, unanimously agreed that governments recognise "the necessity to adopt measures with the aim of progressively establishing a liberalized intra-African aviation market concerning, among other things, traffic rights, capacity, frequency and pricing".

"Considering the importance of enhancing cooperation among African airlines in order to stimulate the development of inter-African air transport and the need to improve the quality of service to the consumers," the declaration partially read.

Fifteen years on, governments have yet to implement this declaration- a development that many industry players consider a disincentive to operating intra-regional flights.

Speaking Tuesday in Lagos, Nigeria at the opening of an office for South Africa Tourism (SAT), Mr. van Schalkwyk said the time has come to implement the treaties for economic gains . The opening of an office in Lagos is the first in Africa for the SAT outside South Africa. It forms part of efforts by the South African government to consolidate economic gains from tourism.

South Africa is a popular tourist destination, with around 860,000 arrivals per month (March 2008) of which around 210,000 are from outside the African continent. Revenue adding up to between 1% and 3% of GDP is generated by the tourism industry. Among the main attractions are the diverse and picturesque culture, the game reserves and the highly regarded wines.

But Mr. van Schalkwyk noted that, his government has decided to focus on Africa because, the middle class on the continent is now spending more on tourism- an avenue governments must take advantage of to create jobs.

"Tourism will help cultivate better understanding between people and cultures...African governments should implement the Yamoussoukro declaration to open up the airline industries," Mr. van Schalkwyk stated.

       

Chief Executive of SAT, Thulani Nzima disclosed that South Africa intends to use Nigeria as a springboard for its economic growth on the continent.

Mr. Nzima said Nigeria, with a population of over 170 million, provides a huge opportunity for his country as far as tourism is concerned.

        

In his address, the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mngeni said his country has adopted a new policy to ensure Africa becomes the centre of its growth and economic diplomacy by focusing more on issues of trade.

According to Mr. Mngeni, South Africa's decision to focus on African tourists rather than those from Europe, the Americas and other continents, is informed by the sheer growth they recorded from visitors from Africa.

        

The Nigerian Minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke commended South Africa for establishing an office in Nigeria to serve its target market in West Africa.

Chief Edem Duke said the move will go a long way to promote bilateral agreements between South Africa and its trade partners in the sub-region as well as provide platforms to engage on mutually beneficial issues.

He however urged management of SAT to make attractive packages to suit the average traveler from the sub-region and Nigeria in particular.

        

       Mr. Nzima (left), Chief Duke (middle) and Mr. van Schalkwyk pose for the cameras after the launch.

        

       

       The magnificient Church Gate building that houses SA Tourism office in Victoria Island, Lagos-Nigeria.