Moderator: Dr. Dirk Glaesser, Director, Sustainable Development of Tourism, UNWTO
Wednesday, 27 March 2019
16:00 – 17:15

 

What is the session about?

Travel facilitation aims at maximizing the efficiency of border clearance formalities while achieving and maintaining high-quality security and effective law enforcement. Allowing passengers/tourists to cross international borders safely and efficiently contributes significantly to stimulating demand, enhancing competitiveness of States, creating jobs and fostering international understanding. In spite of the great strides made in recent decades in facilitating tourist travel in Africa, there is still room for considerable progress. For example, electronic visa processes and delivery could make travel more accessible, convenient, and more efficient without a diminution of national security. States should also look into increasing cooperation on bilateral, regional and international travel facilitation regimes. How can new technologies be used to make travel more accessible, convenient and efficient? How to define and implement policies which facilitate international travel and tourism while ensuring the security and integrity of traveller identification and border controls? How well do e-passports, e-visas and other documentation deal with emergent threats to security? How could African States learn from other effective best practices?

 

In the event the preliminary version of the Visa Openess Report for Africa will be presented. Click on the image below to download the Preliminary Report.