According to Rui Carreira, Angola's Secretary of State for Civil Aviation, Maritime Affairs, and Ports, today, more than ever, it is essential to strengthen the role of air transport as a facilitator of mobility, trade, regional integration, and, above all, as an instrument of cohesion and sustainable economic growth.
In remarks at the opening of the 2nd Ministerial Conference of the UN Tourism and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on Tourism and Air Transport in Africa, in Luanda, the leader advocated for integrated policies to promote the liberalization of African airspace.
The African continent "has one of the greatest tourism potentials in the world: a rich cultural diversity, a unique cultural heritage, and a dynamic and entrepreneurial youth. However, less than 5 percent of global air traffic is concentrated in Africa, a continent that represents 16 percent of the world's population," he emphasized.
Rui Carreira also noted that a very significant portion of intra-African tourism still faces operational, regulatory, and logistical barriers, "not to mention the constraints generated by political instability in some countries."
"It is precisely in this context that air transport needs to be seen not as a cost, but as a strategic investment for African states," he argued.
The minister stated that it is imperative that the African continent move forward with integrated policies that promote the liberalization of airspace in the spirit of the Single African Air Transport Market and the Yamusukro Decision.
Carreira also advocated for strengthening airport infrastructure, with a focus on efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability, and for regional cooperation involving air operators, tourism authorities, and international partners, "with the aim of creating a more resilient, accessible, and innovative ecosystem."
The training of technical staff, the digitalization of airport services, and the encouragement of private investment and public-private partnerships also constitute, in the Secretary of State's view, fundamental axes for enabling long-term projects and aligning the African aviation sector with global standards.
"Tourism and air transport are not isolated sectors. They are cross-cutting axes that connect health, education, culture, trade, and diplomacy," he concluded.
This ministerial conference, taking place in the capital from July 22nd to 24th, under the auspices of UN Tourism and ICAO, brings together government leaders from the African continent, aviation and tourism sector operators, and businesspeople.
