Poor Air Transport Hinders African Tourism

Unreliability, extremely high prices, and poor infrastructure are the

major problems in air transport that hinder the development of tourism

in Africa, according to a news analysis in e-Turbo News service.

Speaking on the role of airlines in a 21st Century vision of African

tourism at the recent Third International Institute for Peace through Tourism, Ethiopian Airlines chief executive officer Girma Wake said: “Air transport in Africa is characterized by unreliability, service is less frequent, erratic, and there are too many stops.”

Extremely high prices are another problem, according to the Ethiopian

Airlines boss. “There is no low-cost airline application in Africa”

because “African airfares are among the highest in the world because

markets are typically small and dispersed.”

Wake also mentioned operating cost as a problem. “Highest landing feel, fuel cost are the most expensive, airport tax are expensive, and these influence decisions by airlines whether or not to serve a destination,” he said.

Highly subsidized national airlines, ineffective competition, rigid

operations and liberalization actions in piecemeal rather than

comprehensive contribute to what he called “poor infrastructure for

market development and safety.”

In addition to naming the air transport problems that hinder African

tourism, the Ethiopian Airlines executive also pointed out some measures to be taken by airlines to the foster development of tourism.

Ensuring supply of safe, reliable and comfortable service is one

measure, Wake said. “Airlines together with their government should work together in enhancing aviation safety and security.”

“We should also support tourism organizations, not only our national

tourist offices, but also African tourist offices,” he added.

“If we do not involve the locals, there is no way we can succeed,” he said.

Other suggestions Wake made include lobbying governments, organizing familiarization trips for tour operators and journalists, organizing conferences, creating need-based packages, promoting cooperation and partnership for easy transfer of tourists, and making travel more accessible to tourists.