African Tourism Board Executive Chairman Dr. Cuthbert Simphiwe Ncube and Roscongress Foundation CEO Alexander Stuglev have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a strategic partnership to birth new opportunities in the business and tourism sectors between Russia and Africa.
This event happened on 12 June on the sidelines of the Let’s Travel! Russian Tourism Forum, Russia’s grand tourism and hospitality sector promotional event at the All-Russian Exhibition Centre.
The Forum started on June 12th and will end on June 16th.
In his remarks, African Tourism Board Executive Chairman Ncube noted that the partnership is a springboard for tourism collaboration between Africa and Russia.
“This MoU marks a significant milestone in our quest to unite Africa and Russia through tourism and investment. We are excited about the potential of this partnership to drive economic growth, create jobs, and facilitate cultural exchange. Together, we can achieve remarkable progress for our continents and contribute to global economic development. We look forward to a fruitful partnership that will benefit our regions and create a strong foundation for future cooperation,” Ncube said.
He added: “This partnership paves the way for a new era of tourism collaboration between Africa and Russia, driving economic growth, job creation, and cultural exchange. By working together, we can unlock new opportunities and create a more interconnected and prosperous world.”
Among other key areas, the MoU calls for cooperation in promoting sustainable tourism and investment opportunities in Africa and Russia, enhancing the visibility and appeal of Africa and Russia as leading tourism and investment destinations in the world, as well as the exchange of resources and experience in areas of mutual interest, such as marketing strategies, investment promotion, and industrial development.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Alexander Stuglev noted that there is a huge potential for tourism and business growth in Russia and African countries and fostering relations between the two will create easier access to both.
“Russia and African countries have excellent prospects to intensify tourism ties. The recreational industry is actively developing on the continent, and there has been a colossal breakthrough in the development of infrastructure. Whereas popular European countries are now difficult, expensive, and time-consuming to get to, Africa has definitely become closer. The memorandum of understanding that our organizations signed today aims to tap into this potential,” Stuglev said.
According to the statement issued by the Russian Tourism Forum, the Cooperation between Russia and the African continent also aims to attract international tourism organizations, ministers of tourism, and leading travel companies operating in the domestic and international tourism markets to Africa and Russia.
“Russian tourists have shown growing interest in Africa in recent years. In 2023, the number of such tourists increased by 30%, with South Africa being the top destination. Statistics from tour operators show that the most popular countries last year were Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, and Madagascar. In addition, tourists often try to combine several countries in one trip, and the average duration of the tour is 10 days, which is enough time to go on safaris and visit national parks and reserves,” the communique reads in part.
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It further indicates that Senegal and Sierra Leone have great potential for attracting tourists from Russia and that travelers are also showing considerable interest in Gambia, “which has unilaterally introduced a 90-day visa-free regime for Russians. Nowadays, African countries are in also great demand because flights are closer and cheaper than to countries in Europe and North America.”
As per the provisions of the MoU, members of the African Tourism Board (ATB) and their Russian counterparts will create a joint committee to ensure the effective implementation of the memorandum’s objectives.
“The committee will focus on building a strong foundation for ongoing collaboration and ensure that the partnership produces tangible benefits for both parties,” Russian Tourism Forum stated.