Promoting southern African tourism through regional collaboration

8/6/2019 Promoting southern African tourism through regional collaboration

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RETOSA –

Promoting

regional tourism. The Regional Tourism Organization

of Southern Africa (RETOSA)

supports sustainable tourism in

southern Africa with the hope for

long term benefits for each country.

Tinacho Gerald – March 23, 2011

www.capetocongo.com



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A study done by the Matthew Thomson of The Africa Group (TAG) and Hurbert Danso

of Africa Investor concluded that collectively Africa is missing out on $254 billion a year

in “untapped tourism potential.” It is important to note that different nations are on

different ends of the spectrum when it comes to potential income. The authors found thatSouth Africa, Egypt and Morocco account for a staggering 59% of total tourism earnings

of the 47 countries surveyed.

In 2010, aggregate tourism income across the continent was $54 billion, and the report

concluded that in order to reach the projected $254 billion countries would need to

capitalize more on coastal, environmental and cultural tourism.

“Tourism is a unique industry, heavily

dependent upon reputation, intangible

attraction and the capacity to adequately

welcome, transport and host a diverse flux

of discerning visitors.”

Tourism is a unique industry and as the authors correctly note, it is, “heavily dependent

upon reputation, intangible attraction and the capacity to adequately welcome, transport

and host a diverse flux of discerning visitors.” The recent World Cup in South Africa was

perhaps the biggest stage a country can showcase its attractions, people and ability to

accommodate visitors. The tourism industry in that country is set to benefit from

improved perceptions. On the other hand Egypt, a country typically popular with tourists

will at least in the short term suffer from negative perceptions and fear of insecurity after

recent civil unrest saw the overthrow of government in January.

In order to improve performance in the short term, Danso and Thomson suggest

reduction of red tape, boosting of public appeal, attraction of private investment

through tax incentives and clever branding partnerships.

http://www.theafricagroup.com/featured-work/

http://www.theafricagroup.com/featured-work/



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Longer term proposals including countries capitalizing on their unique selling points;

increased focus on intra-African trade; improved infrastructure and services; marketing

the continent as a tourist destination to other emerging markets particularly China and

periphery markets linking themselves with core ones.

Countries on the periphery can leverage the positive perceptions of neighbouring

countries or the region they belong to for their own benefit. Countries like South Africa

and Ghana can have a net positive effect on tourism in neighbouring countries such as

Botswana and Botswana respectively the study states.

The Regional Tourism Organization

of Southern Africa (RETOSA) brings together

14 countries from the region with the goal of

supporting sustainably developed tourism

with the hope that every country will benefit

in the long run.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) seeks to promote the region in

order to draw tourists to its many attractions while improve perceptions about the region

through the creation of RETOSA. The Regional Tourism Organization of Southern

Africa (RETOSA) brings together the 14 countries from the region with the goal of

supporting sustainably developed tourism with the hope that every country will benefit in

the long run. Member countries include Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Lesotho,

Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland,Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.



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RETOSA has a set of ambitious objectives that aim to benefit the region in the followingways:

drive economic growth and boost job creation throughout the economy;

increase export earnings and attract inward investment;

alleviate poverty and stimulate rapid economic development in rural and

peripheral areas;

assist with broader economic development by using Tourism related

infrastructure and transport networks;

increase lobbying efforts in the transport and communication sector in

liberalization of air transport and development of international hubs to allow

direct air access to more destinations in SADC;

work with the private sector in collaborative ventures with a focus on

sustainable development, open markets and human resource development;

draw on abundant natural and cultural resources in partnership with local

communities and other stakeholders and improve the quality of life for all

residents;

draw on a strong core Brand already developed by the sector in

communicating the Region’s tourism identity;

According to the organization the region faces the following key challenges (Note thatmost of these challenges were also mentioned in Thomson and Danso’s report):

availability/in-availability of accurate and reliable tourism statistics andinformation necessary for investment and business decisions;

lack of adequate information on internationally acceptable standards of

service in tourism operations;

gaps in infrastructure, a lack of capacity and the need for major investment

in facilities;

poor international flight frequency, often limited internal transport links, and

cross border access difficulties;

too much red tape, both for companies doing business in SADC and for the

tourists who want to visit; and a lack of basic education and vocational training in customer care and

service quality.



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Key initiatives developed by RETOSA include Community Based Tourism, the

creation of Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) and a proposal to introduce a

universal regional visa known as the UNIVISA.

The concept of Community Based tourism is derived from the simple fact that local

communities (small and micro enterprises) do not derive sufficient benefits from the

development of tourism despite being key providers of goods and services to the sector in

the region. This is ascribed to lack of adequate involvement in the mainstream

development of tourism. .

The goal of RETOSA is to keep a balance between economic needs and the desire to

preserve heritage by local communities. This, according to the organization can be

achieved through closer liaison with sectors responsible for issues of culture and the

environment while bringing communities in SADC into the mainstream tourism business

so that economic benefits from tourism also accrue to the communities.

Transfrontier Conservation areas (TFCAs) straddle across two or more international

borders where the natural and cultural resources are collaboratively managed by the

governments/authorities involved. Transfrontier Parks (TFP) are areas where two or more

protected areas are adjoined and collaboratively managed across the international

borders.

TFCAs have come into being as policy makers in the region seek to establish key

ecological functions previously disrupted by limitations of opposing land uses and

management principles across the borders. Such an approach also allows for seasonal

migration routes for wildlife which is not hampered by borders and fences. Socio-economically cross border tourism is promoted and economies of scale increase as

activities such as eco-tourism proliferate. Such cross border collaboration strengthens

regional integration and cooperation, leading to non-zero sum benefits for all parties



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involved. There are currently seven TFCAs with a further 7 planned with the goal of

these areas spanning across the whole region.

In addition to the above initiatives RETOSA is actively seeking the establishment of a

tourism VISA (UNIVISA) which will facilitate movement of international tourists in to

the region in order to increase the market share and revenue of the region in world

tourism. Such a visa would considerably improve ease of travel and the flow of visitors to

and within the region. An issue that currently hampers travellers to move from one

country to another unless they have the required visa for individual countries in the

region.

Southern Africa is blessed with scenic views, diverse wildlife typified by the majestic big

five and warm people whose rich cultures tell a story that cannot be told on any other part

of the world. Through RETOSA, SADC is seeking to harness the great potential the

region possesses.

For more information on RETOSA please visit their website at www.retosa.org

Visit www.capetocongo.com for interesting insights on topical issues in southern Africa’s

development.

http://www.retosa.co.za/

http://www.retosa.org/



http://www.capetocongo.com/





http://www.retosa.co.za/

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Promoting southern African tourism through regional collaboration