African Tourism Ministers champion continental growth at Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025

AA powerful wave of optimism and a unified vision for the future of African tourism swept through the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal on 13 May, as esteemed tourism leaders convened for the highly anticipated African Ministers' Roundtable at Africa's Travel Indaba 2025. Hosted by South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, the panel featured a distinguished lineup including Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Angola's Minister of Tourism; Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, Eswatini's Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development; Fredson Bacar, Mozambique's Secretary of State of Tourism; and Rodney Sikumba, Zambia's Minister of Tourism.

The Roundtable, a cornerstone of the Indaba, provided a crucial forum for these leaders to discuss strategies to unlock Africa's vast tourism potential and foster greater regional collaboration for inclusive growth. Their collective message was clear: Africa is open, Africa is collaborating, and Africa is poised for unprecedented tourism growth driven by shared strategies and a Pan-African spirit.

Africa’s Travel Indaba is a gateway to the continent’s diverse tourism sector

Africa's Travel Indaba, an iconic leisure trade show presented by South African Tourism and in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, Durban Tourism, and the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Durban ICC, creates market access for the continent's diverse tourism products. This year's event, held in the vibrant city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, again underscored its importance as the premier platform for African exhibitors to connect with international and local buyers.

The spirit of collaboration over competition was a recurring theme, passionately echoed by Minister Sikhumbuzo Dlamini of Eswatini. “Partnerships and collaborations are very key in making sure that you take advantage of the other partner. We are not here to compete. We are here to collaborate.” Minister Dlamini highlighted how Eswatini, a landlocked country primarily surrounded by South Africa, benefits from this synergy, gaining spin-offs from tourists visiting its larger neighbour.

A call for a united Africa

Zambia's Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba, delivered an impassioned call for a united African front. “As African tourism ministers, we have a singular resolve to work as a team, there must be cohesion and strength in numbers. The days of competition are gone, we must support one another and showcase what makes us unique. Our cultures, our gastronomy, our dress - these are the assets that set us apart. We’ve also expanded Zambia’s visa-free access from 42 to 167 countries and believe it’s time to openthe skies so people can travel more freely across the continent. We don’t all need to reinvent the wheel - let’s strengthen existing hubs like OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg), Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi), and Bole International Airport (Addis Ababa). Collaboration is the way forward.”

Collaboration is key to growing African tourism

Fredson Bacar, Mozambique's Secretary of State for Tourism, reinforced the importance of regional partnerships, citing the ZIMOZA Transfrontier Park, a collaborative effort between Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. He noted that 70-75% of Mozambique's tourists come from South Africa, underlining the deep existing ties. Mozambique has also taken significant

steps in visa liberalisation, exempting 29 countries, including all SADC nations, from visa requirements.

Angola's Minister of Tourism, Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, envisioned the Africa’s Travel Indaba as “the starting point for us as Africans to address the barriers that still exist in creating a more boundary-less economy between our countries”. He called for the implementation of long-discussed programmes like the open skies policy and free visa policies.

Minister Daniel announced concrete actions, including a B2B meeting between Angolan and Zambian tour operators to create joint tour packages, with similar initiatives planned with South Africa. “Young people from Africa don’t understand why they cannot travel from Cape to Cairo without a visa”, he observed poignantly. “Angola is working towards e-visas and e-permits by 2028 and has launched its own airline with ambitions to connect the continent.”

Africa’s investment in streamlined travel processes and skills development

Minister de Lille provided further insights into South Africa’s efforts to dismantle travel barriers. She confirmed that visas and open skies remain the “two biggest barriers to growth tourism in the continent”, and that pressure is being applied through the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which facilitates not just the movement of goods but also people. South Africa is progressing towards an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, expected by the end of the year, which will streamline visa applications for visitors worldwide using digital technology and artificial intelligence.

Investment and skills development were also high on the agenda. Minister de Lille stressed the importance of “demand-led skills” training, ensuring that young people are equipped for available jobs in the tourism sector, a sentiment shared by Minister Sikumba, who noted Zambia's embedding of hospitality into its national curriculum to empower its youthful population.

Africa's Travel Indaba proved once again to be more than just a trade show. It is a vibrant incubator of ideas, a crucible for partnerships, and a powerful symbol of Africa’s commitment to shaping its own tomorrow, through connection today. The resolutions and collaborations forged here in Durban are set to resonate across the continent, promising a brighter, more accessible, and more unified future for African tourism.

Ends.