Routes Africa Heads to Zimbabwe in 2014

AsiaNet 53668

MANCHESTER, England, July 10, 2011 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

     Civil Aviation Authority of 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 7-9

July 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 21km 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 $150

million USD including construction of a new runway, international terminal

building and control tower and is expected to be completed by December 2014.

    Notes to Editors

    About Routes

    - Routes organises world-renowned airline and airport networking events

through its regional and global Route Development Forums. Each year, there is

one global event and one regional event in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas

and CIS respectively. http://www.routesonline.com

    - Routes was founded in 1995 as part of the Manchester UK-based ASM Ltd.,

a consultancy specialising in the field of route development for airports.

http://www.asm-global.com

    - Routes and ASM were acquired by UBM Aviation Worldwide Ltd in August

2010. From 1st August 2012 Routes, ASM and the Airport Cities Conference and

Exhibition become part of the UBM Live division of UBM plc.

    - UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across

five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products,

promote their brands and expand their markets. Through premiere brands such as

MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show, the Routes

portfolio of events, Airport Cities and many others, UBM Live exhibitions,

conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and

certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies

across more than 20 industry sectors. http://www.ubmlive.com

     Follow us on twitter: @Routesonline, @TheHUBRoutes, @VictoriaRoutes,

@NLPROU, @airlineroute

     SOURCE: UBM Live Routes Ltd