The seventh Routes Africa has opened in the Kempinski Resort Hotel in the Seychelles, with a high level Strategy Forum that dealt with the key issues in African aviation.

Tops on the agenda included: Liberalisation vs. Competition; the Global Outlook for Africa; and finding ways to unlock the opportunities and challenges in the region.

Alain St Ange, minister of tourism and culture from Seychelles, hosts of Routes Africa 2012, was joined by Didier Robert, president of La Reunion, Martinus Van Schalkwyk, prime minister of South Africa and Cramer Ball, chief executive of Air Seychelles, to call for greater air links for the whole of Africa.

Addressing an audience of almost 300 key decision makers from all over Africa, the keynote addresses highlighted the growth and opportunity that exists in the region. 

“We live in a highly interconnected world where no organisation can afford to be an ‘island unto itself’ and where the formation of mutually beneficial partnerships and synergies is increasingly the only way to prosper.

“Indeed, we are already witnessing the ‘Golden Triangle’ of cooperation between airlines, Tourism Authorities and Civil Aviation, all which imply the future enrichment of our respective tourism industries,” said St. Ange. 

Panel discussions and keynote addresses during the Routes Africa Strategy Forum went on to further encourage the need to greater air lift within the region, so that all African countries can glean the economic benefit that air services bring. Martinus Van Schalkwyk, Minister of the Republic of South went on to explain that the South African government was “committed to a universal e-visa to encourage tourism and create jobs”.