Seven years after their landmark first meeting in Cabo Verde, UN Tourism and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) reconvened in Luanda, Angola, for the 2nd Ministerial Conference on Tourism and Air Transport in Africa – a high-level forum focused on boosting continental mobility, sustainability, and integration through closer aviation-tourism alignment.
Held under the theme “Connectivity, Sustainability, and Integration”, the conference concluded with the Luanda Ministerial Declaration, a joint blueprint for revolutionising African travel and tourism through practical policy reform, investment, and infrastructure development.
A United Front for Growth
The event – hosted in partnership with the Government of Angola – brought together ministers of tourism and transport, aviation regulators, development agencies, and private sector leaders. The core focus: reducing intra-African travel barriers, investing in aviation and tourism infrastructure, and unlocking the continent’s vast potential for sustainable economic transformation.
Speaking during a meeting at State House, Angolan President João Lourenço reaffirmed his government’s commitment to tourism, citing major airport upgrades as pivotal to positioning Angola as a regional gateway. “Angola is open for business,” he declared.
Angola as an Emerging Tourism Power
In his welcome address, Minister of Tourism Márcio Daniel called on delegates to see Angola not only as host, but as a committed partner in shaping Africa’s tourism future.
“Feel greeted by the crystal-clear waters that feed the Okavango Delta, the golden beaches of Benguela, the sway of our kizomba, and the energy of our kuduro. But most importantly, feel embraced by our people – our greatest treasure,” he said.
Minister Daniel highlighted the persisting challenge of poor intra-African air connectivity, noting that many delegates had to travel via Europe or Asia to attend a conference within Africa – a costly and unnecessary detour that underscores the urgency for reform.
Milestones and New Commitments
The conference coincided with two significant anniversaries – the 50th anniversary of UN Tourism and ICAO’s 80th – making the 2025 gathering especially symbolic.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili praised Angola’s ambition and infrastructure development, describing the country as a potential “new African Dubai.” He urged decisive policy action to remove the barriers holding African tourism back.
“This conference continues the dialogue we began in Cabo Verde in 2019. Tourism and aviation must work in unison – if one is weak, the other cannot succeed,” he said. “Tourism is recovering across Africa, but not equally. Connectivity remains one of the biggest bottlenecks.”
Two key agreements were signed between UN Tourism and Angola:
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support tourism training, including 100 online scholarships for young Angolans.
• A second MoU to improve data collection and statistical capacity in the tourism sector.
“These initiatives will build a new generation of tourism professionals and position Angola as a model for sustainable tourism,” added Pololikashvili.
ICAO’s Call for Unified Action
ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano reiterated that air transport is the backbone of tourism, noting that without connectivity, the sector cannot thrive. He applauded the continent’s record-breaking 74 million international arrivals in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 7%, but noted that visa restrictions, poor infrastructure, and fragmented policies continue to limit the continent’s potential.
Zambia’s Minister of Tourism and Chair of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa (CAF), Rodney Sikumba, joined virtually to urge stronger political will:
“We must move beyond dialogue. It’s time for bold policies, strategic investment, and full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). Africa must travel more within Africa.”
Luanda Ministerial Declaration: A Roadmap for Action
In his closing remarks, Angola’s Minister of Transport Ricardo Viegas D’Abreu called for bold steps towards genuine regional connectivity. “With direct flights, affordable fares, and harmonised regulations, we can finally unlock intra-African tourism.”
The Luanda Ministerial Declaration outlines core commitments to:
• Harmonise aviation and tourism policies continent-wide
• Promote visa waivers and more flexible entry regimes
• Encourage public-private investments in infrastructure and technology
• Position Africa as a unified, safe, and globally competitive destination
Minister Daniel also announced the launch of a new 3,000-seat Convention Centre in Luandalater this year, positioning Angola as a future hub for event tourism.
A Defining Moment for Africa
The conference was both a continuation of the 2019 vision and a turning point for Africa’s tourism and aviation ambitions.
“With this declaration, Angola affirms itself as a strategic centre for continental decision-making,” said Minister Daniel.
As the continent rallies behind shared goals of connectivity, sustainability, and integration, African leaders are optimistic that the momentum generated in Luanda will pave the way for a new era of open skies, stronger partnerships, and inclusive growth.
