AIRFARES in Africa are
50% higher than anywhere
else in the world, and this
needs to change. This is
according to SA tourism
minister, Marthinus van
Schalkwyk, who spoke
at the dialogue of African
ministers at the Tourism
Indaba, which took place
from May 10-12 in Durban.
According to the minister,
African countries need
to increase transparency
when it comes to airfares,
taxes and fuel surcharges.
“Many governments
actually add taxes that
the public doesn’t even
know about because of the
un-transparent nature of
how prices of aviation fuel
are being set. As African
countries democratise, it
is much more difficult for
governments to continue
with un-transparent
systems.”
Alain St Ange, Seychelles
minister of tourism,
agreed and suggested
that African airlines should
have preferential airfares
for African citizens. “To
increase business, let’s
look at our taxes. Recently,
at an Indian Ocean
commission, a resolution
was passed to have
preferential tickets for
the inhabitants of the
islands of the Indian
Oceans. That is maybe
something that we need to
do with Africa.”
