Zimbabwe named as Host of Routes Africa 2014

After a successful Routes Africa event in Kampala which, with over 350 delegates in attendance, was the largest Routes Africa event ever, joint Hosts, the Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda and Entebbe International Airport, officially handed over to Zimbabwe who were signed earlier this week as the official host destination of the 2014 event.

Building on the success of this year’s event the largest route development forum for the entire African region will take place on 22-24 June 2014 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe hosted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.

Speaking at the 8th Routes Africa event which has been taking place July 7-9 in Kampala, Uganda, Munesu Munodawafa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development, Zimbabwe commented: “As a country, Zimbabwe is excited to have been granted the opportunity to host the prestigious Routes Africa forum in the year 2014. Befittingly, we will host the event at the resort town of Victoria Falls, the home of the majestic Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The hosting of this event fits in well with the country’s strategic thrust to economically advance through, among other initiatives, tourism development and the transformation of the country into a regional world class transport and communications hub. We take this opportunity to thank the Routes team for their confidence in Zimbabwe and we promise delegates a fruitful and memorable event in 2014. We look forward to welcoming delegates from Africa and the World at large.”

Nigel Mayes, VP Commercial – Routes, UBM Live said of the announcement: “We are thrilled at the decision to take Routes Africa to the stunning destination of Victoria Falls which is a World Heritage Site. Hosting Routes Africa will deliver the route development community to Victoria Falls providing the opportunity to market this destination extensively whilst also showcasing the potential of the airport once it has undergone the major infrastructure changes which began earlier this year.”

Victoria Falls, which is a major resort town easily accessible by air, road and rail, lies on the southern bank of the Zambezi River at the western end of the Victoria Falls themselves. For centuries, known and deemed sacred by the local Tonga people, as Mosi-oa-Tunya, (the smoke that thunders); this Natural World Wonder is shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia. The falls are Zimbabwe’s prime tourist attraction and are known for their splendor throughout the world whilst the town of Victoria Falls is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site and the Victoria Falls Green belt.

Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA), situated 21 km south of the town, provides easy access to Victoria Falls and is currently served by scheduled domestic and regional flights and charter flights from various parts of the world. Within the region VFA is easily accessible from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Luanda, Nairobi, and locally from Harare. VFA is currently implementing a major infrastructure upgrading project at a total cost of US$150 million including construction of a new runway, international terminal building and control tower and is expected to be completed by December 2014.