The Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) today approved the strategic plan which is aimed at addressing challenges faced by the region in developing and growing tourism at its 42nd Board meeting in George in the Western Cape.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation report states that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region receives about two percent of global tourists on average instead of the expected seven percent. The lack of growth has been attributed to constraints which include the under-exploitation of the rich tourism potential, lack of proper infrastructure development, price competitiveness and non aggressive marketing of the region.
RETOSA is a body responsible for the promotion and marketing of tourism in 14 southern African countries and its mandate is to leverage tourism as a major economic driver for the region. The participating SADC countries are Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The board meeting reviewed the repositioning of RETOSA as a semi-autonomous body and its significance for tourism in southern Africa.
RETOSA Chair, who is the Director-General for Tourism in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ms Berthe Akatshi Osako, said the repositioning effectively provides RETOSA with the opportunity to transform the promotion of growth and development of tourism in the region. She added that the region can realise sustainable return on investment on its marketing efforts and market share of the global tourism arrivals through a shared vision, improved infrastructure development and collaborative and aggressive marketing.
Chairperson Osaka’s views were endorsed by the SADC Director for Infrastructure Services at SADC Secretariat, Mr Remmy Makumbe who said this perspective fulfils the decision of the SADC council to re-brand RETOSA as a vibrant coordinating and lead institution for joint marketing of tourism for the SADC region which can rapidly respond to challenges devoid of bureaucratic tendencies.
Some of the initiatives highlighted in the strategic plan to address challenges in tourism development include, amongst others, the opportunity provided by the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, 2011 All Africa Games in Mozambique, re-launch of the King’s Golf Cup in Swaziland in 2010 and the 50th anniversary in Democratic Republic of Congo. Deputy Director-General from the national Department of Tourism, Ms Sindiswa Nhlumayo, said successful tourism depends on the supply of quality products, service excellence and the safety and security of visitors in the region. She also believes that the leverages from the 2010 FIFA World Cup will contribute to achieving the set objectives of the organisation.
Executive Director of RETOSA, Mr Francis Mfune said SADC is a unique tourist destination by virtue of its cultural and natural endowment and the essence of ubuntu. The potential of the region’s tourism product offering is immense and if effectively managed, it will take tourism experiences and arrivals to new heights. The meeting will end tomorrow where delegates will be given an opportunity to explore and experience South Africa’s rich tourism offerings at the Garden Route in the Klein Karoo in the Western Cape.
For more information, please visit: http://www.retosa.co.za/.
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Issued by: Department of Tourism
21 October 2009
