SADC Reports Progress on Regional Tourism Integration at ITB Berlin 2026

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat has reported notable progress in advancing regional tourism integration during the Internationale Tourismus Börse (ITB) Berlin 2026, where Angola served as the Official Host Country.

The update was presented during a stakeholder session supported by the German Government and the European Union, and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The session highlighted developments under the SADC Tourism Programme 2020–2030, which provides a coordinated roadmap for sustainable tourism development across the region’s 16 Member States.

Speaking during the session, SADC Programme Officer for Policy and Market Development, Ms. Marygoreth Mushi, outlined progress in three priority areas: visa harmonisation, improved air access, and cross-border tourism product development. She emphasised that enhanced regional cooperation is essential for unlocking tourism’s full potential as a driver of inclusive economic growth, job creation, and environmental sustainability across Southern Africa.

A recently completed Air Access Study has been submitted for ministerial review. The study identifies several major constraints affecting regional aviation connectivity, including the slow implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), high aviation taxes, limited flight routes, and inadequate aviation infrastructure.

Key recommendations include accelerating the adoption of SAATM, harmonising aviation-related charges across Member States, and coordinating strategic infrastructure investments to improve connectivity across the region. The Southern Africa Tourism Alliance (SATA) confirmed its commitment to supporting the operationalisation of these recommendations through its private sector networks.

Progress was also reported on the SADC Tourism UniVisa pilot project, which currently involves Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The initiative has made significant strides in establishing ICT systems, legal frameworks, and revenue-sharing models, benchmarked against successful regional visa systems such as the KAZA UniVisa and the East African Tourism Visa.

To support the programme’s implementation, a customer service training initiative for immigration officials has also been introduced, aimed at strengthening border management while ensuring a positive visitor experience. SATA has further supported these efforts through specialised training in border management and disaster risk management.

Regional tourism integration is also being strengthened through Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), where improving cross-border mobility is seen as a key factor in enhancing the region’s tourism competitiveness. Mr. Nick Tucker of the Boundless Southern Africa Programme noted that effective cross-border tourism experiences play a critical role in demonstrating the practical benefits of regional integration.

“Nothing makes regional integration more tangible than a functioning cross-border tourism experience, and every reduction in travel friction increases competitiveness,” Tucker stated.

The SADC Tourism Programme aims to ensure that by 2030, cross-border multi-destination tourism in Southern Africa will exceed the global average growth rate, Chairing the session, Acting Chief Executive Officer of South African Tourism, Dr. Shamilla Chettiar, emphasised the importance of collaboration across the sector, noting that stronger partnerships among governments, tourism authorities, and the private sector are essential for the region to compete effectively in the global tourism market.

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This News was Procured from the SADC News.

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