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AFRICAN OPEN SKIES THE KEY TO REACHING TRAVEL AND TOURISM POTENTIAL

 

“African states must work together to open the continent’s skies in order to maximize the potential of the travel and tourism sector.”

That is the message from David Scowsill, President and CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), at a major speech in South Africa, today.

Speaking at the World Routes Strategy Summit in Durban, Scowsill hailed the success of air liberalizing initiatives across the world and called on Africa’s governments to put aside decades of differences, to heed the success of open skies reforms across the world by fully implementing open skies across the continent.

“Africa is a vast continent. The distances between the major cities is so great, with poor trans-continental road and rail networks, that flying is the only realistic way to travel. 

"The economic potential of tourism in Africa is remarkable. According to our figures it will rival Asia Pacific for growth in the next decade. But for this to materialize or even be exceeded, it needs individual nations to work together on progressively implementing the Yamoussoukro Agreement signed over 25 years ago.”

“The biggest single opportunity for Africa is to fully liberalize its air travel. The role of aviation in creating jobs and driving economic growth is too important to be ignored, particularly when restrained by one ministry’s mandate to protect a national airline. The industry requires a coherent aviation policy. It cannot make financial sense for a country to protect one or two companies, at the expense of the economic growth of an entire industry.

Travel and tourism generates economic growth, jobs and investment. Aviation liberalization creates more routes, greater competition and lower fares. We urge the continent’s leaders to fully liberalize aviation for the potential of our industry to be fully realized.”

Source: WTTC
 

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal announced as official host destination of 21st World Route Development Forum

It was announced today at the BRICS Summit, which is currently taking place in Durban, South Africa that KwaZulu-Natal Province (KZN) will play host to the 21st World Route Development Forum (World Routes) at ICC Durban from 20th -22nd September 2015.  This marks the first time in its history that the event has been held in Africa.

World Routes is the global meeting place for every airline, airport, tourism board and government stakeholder and attracts attendees from over 110 countries.  The event is focused around the development of the world’s air services and hosting World Routes provides a unique opportunity for a destination to showcase its airport, its city and its country to the air service decision-makers of the world.  

The announcement of Durban, KZN as the Host for World Routes 2015 represents the culmination of a successful bid to host the event driven by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism in which all of the region’s key stakeholders were involved in supporting the proposal.  These stakeholders included; Tourism KwaZulu-Natal; Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal; Airports Company South Africa; King Shaka International Airport; Dube TradePort Corporation; South Africa National Convention Bureau; Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau  and South African Airways. 

“I’m delighted that World Routes will be taking place in Africa in 2015 and it is fitting, with such a focus on the development of international trade, that we are bringing it to Durban and the region of KwaZulu-Natal,” said David Stroud, Executive Vice President, Routes UBM Live continuing:  “I’d like to thank all the team in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal for all the hard work that’s been done throughout the host bidding process, you’ve done a fantastic job, and I know it’s going to be a great success.  Congratulations, we look forward to working with you.”

Commenting on the successful bid, the Provincial Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Michael Mabuyakhulu said:  “The announcement by UBM Live to award KwaZulu-Natal the rights to host World Routes 2015 in Durban is a significant achievement for our country in particular and Africa in general, given the fact that this event will be hosted on the continent for the very first time.”

“World Routes 2015 will position our flagship development, southern Africa’s premier air logistics platform and the home of the continent's first purpose built aerotropolis, the Dube Trade Port, which incorporates the King Shaka International Airport for a major growth in air services.  At the official opening of Dube Trade Port last year, our president His Excellency President Jacob Zuma challenged us to grow King Shaka International Airport into becoming an alternative aviation hub.  Bringing World Routes 2015 to KwaZulu-Natal is our response to this challenge, amongst our other strategic initiatives.  The KwaZulu-Natal province has participated in past World Routes events and based on our analysis we have seen how air services have improved in airports that have hosted these events.  It is, therefore, our plan to leverage on the hosting of World Routes 2015 to help grow air lift out of King Shaka International Airport, the host airport for this event.” he said.

“I would like to thank the Bid Committee led by our Head of Department, Mr Desmond Golding, our partners in this bid: ACSA, SAA, Ministry for Public Enterprises and City of Durban for the support they gave us in bidding for this event.  Above all we thank UBM Live for showing confidence not only in KwaZulu-Natal, but also in our beautiful country.  We will work hard to help UBM Live deliver the best event in 2015,” he added.

KwaZulu-Natal Province is the country’s most popular domestic leisure tourism destination and is home to Africa’s busiest sea-ports:  Durban – the busiest in Africa and Richards Bay – the deepest in Africa.  The city of Durban is a vibrant city overflowing with cultural diversity and is the second largest in South Africa with a population of around 4 million.

King Shaka International Airport is a multi-billion Rand international airport which opened in May 2010 ahead of the FIFA World Cup Championships.  The Airport, along with its adjacent trade port “Dube TradePort” provides world-class facilities for intercontinental passenger travel and freight transfer. 

The city of Durban and KwaZulu-Natal Province have embarked upon a development strategy to grow the regional tourism economy and to increase the number of international tourists to KZN by 2030.  The plan is to grow passenger and cargo airlift out of King Shaka International Airport and hosting World Routes 2015 will assist in improving the air services potential of the airport, coupled with the trade gateway operations of the two sea ports.  In addition, bringing the event to the growing aviation market of Africa, which also has significant potential, will be of huge benefit to the region.

www.flynationwide.co.za

Nationwide Airways

Nationwide Airlines and the Mpumalanga Kruger International Airport

Nationwide Airlines, South Africa is planning to commence scheduled services to the new Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) from 6th Dec 2002.

The initial start-up schedule will comprise of four return flights a week, operating between Cape Town, Johannesburg and Kruger, Monday's/ Wednesday's / Friday's and Sunday's. More flights are planned from March 2003 offering in addition connections to Victoria Falls Zambia and Port Elizabeth, these will be added as the destination moves towards its peak season.  

'Nationwide Airlines has always been an enthusiastic supporter of this new and important gateway to the Kruger Park.' Said commercial executive Chris Hoare 'Our large international tour operators have always been somewhat frustrated by the lack of capacity to the destination, often having to resort to expensive charter and long coach drives when faced with their big groups. Now, with this new Boeing 747 capable airport available to us, we are able to move passengers in the volumes demanded by our key clients and to connect Cape Town with this important well known destination'.

Nationwide's 09:45 departure out of Cape Town bound for Kruger, offers a leisurely start to a safari program in contrast with the red-eye specials currently on offer. An afternoon return flight will allow guests a morning game-drive and a brunch before they move on down to Cape Town.

Nationwide is also planning a lodge hopper service that will carry its passengers onwards from MQP to the private lodges in the region.

Additional flights and added value features of this new Nationwide service, will be announced in due course.

For more information: visit their website on www.flynationwide.co.za

Facilities

6 car rental companies have been confirmed as tenants at the airport. Many private lodges and charter operations as well as two hotel chains will also take up lounges on the mezzanine level. A further press statement with their names and contact details will be furnished shortly, once all the contracts and rental agreements have been signed.

The shop fittings in the terminal building are nearing completion. At this stage of going to press more than 90% of the full time contractors on site have completed their projects.

Contact: Irvin Phenyane:
Business Development Manager
Martie Malan: Marketing Manager

Tel : +27 13 755 4377

Fax : +27 13 755 3135

Flight schedules, airport fees and taxes

Fees and updated information are on our website,
www.kmiairport.co.za

Send all email queries to <mailto:info@kmiairport.co.za>info@kmiairport.co.za