Routes and Africa's RETOSA Agree to Strategic Partnership

PR57049

MANCHESTER, England, June 13/PRN=KYODO JBN /--

    On 30th May 2014 Routes (part of UBM Live) and the Regional Tourism

Organization of Southern Africa (RETOSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding

to work together to improve air connectivity and travel facilitation to, from

and within Africa.

    "Collaboration between RETOSA and Routes as strategic partners is

incredibly significant and long overdue. It is our hope that this will help

advance our advocacy role in aviation development across the Southern Africa

region. We also believe that this initiative will enhance public-private

partnership and engagement in all matters relating to air connectivity,

accessibility and travel facilitation in our region," said Simba Mandinyenya,

Acting Executive Director, RETOSA.

    "Aviation is a vital catalyst for Africa's continued economic growth as it

facilitates business, trade, tourism and promotes sustainable development and

Routes events are the meeting places that bring together the world's airlines

with airports and destination stakeholders to discuss and negotiate air service

opportunities," said Katie Bland, Director Routes, UBM Live.

    "Therefore, RETOSA and Routes share a common goal, which is to improve air

connectivity and tourism for Africa," continued Mrs. Bland. "We are delighted

that RETOSA will be supporting two of our forthcoming Routes events to be

hosted within the SADC region: Routes Africa 2014 in Victoria Falls, hosted by

Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe from 22nd - 24th June 2014; and World

Routes 2015 in Durban, hosted by KwaZulu-Natal Province from 20th - 22nd

September 2015."

    RETOSA is a Southern African Development Community (SADC) institution

responsible for tourism growth and development. Their vision is to develop

effective and impactful tourism initiatives in the SADC region in order to make

Southern Africa a regional destination of choice by 2027.

    RETOSA has 15 member states which include both Zimbabwe, the destination

for this year's Routes Africa, 22-24 June in Victoria Falls, and South Africa

which will see the global aviation community arrive in force when World Routes

2015 takes place in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

    By aligning closely with Routes, RETOSA is demonstrating its commitment to

improving travel facilitation in the SADC region and they will play an active

role in driving content for the World Routes Strategy Summit and World Tourism

Summit at World Routes 2015. Routes are confident that this partnership will

also lead to improved participation from the 15 SADC members, including

Ministerial attendance at future events.

    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 are part of the UBM

      Live division of UBM plc.

    - UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across

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      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

    About UBM plc

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company. We help businesses do business, bringing the world's buyers and

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and efficiently.

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   SOURCE: UBM Live Routes Ltd