Roscongress foundation and African Tourism Board Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Roscongress Foundation CEO Alexander Stuglev and African Tourism Board Executive Chairman Dr. Cuthbert Simphiwe Ncube have signed a document on strategic partnership to promote Russian-African business, commercial, and recreational tourism. The ceremony took place on 12th June on the sidelines of the Let’s Travel! Russian Tourism Forum, an anchor event in the tourism and hospitality sector, which continued at the All-Russian Exhibition Centre until 16 June.

“Russia and African countries have excellent prospects to intensify tourism ties. The recreational industry is actively developing on the continent, and there has been a colossal breakthrough in the development of infrastructure. Whereas popular European countries are now difficult, expensive, and time-consuming to get to, Africa has definitely become closer. The memorandum of understanding that our organizations signed aims to tap into this potential,” Alexander Stuglev said during the signing of the memorandum.

The document called for cooperation in promoting sustainable tourism and investment opportunities in Africa and Russia, enhancing the visibility and appeal of Africa and Russia as leading tourism and investment destinations in the world, as well as the exchange of resources and experience in areas of mutual interest, such as marketing strategies, investment promotion, and industrial development.

Cooperation between Russia and the African continent also aims to attract international tourism organizations, ministers of tourism, and leading travel companies operating in the domestic and international tourism markets to Africa and Russia.

Russian tourists have shown growing interest in Africa in recent years. In 2023, the number of such tourists increased by 30%, with South Africa being the top destination. Statistics from tour operators show that the most popular countries last year were Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, and Madagascar. In addition, tourists often try to combine several countries in one trip, and the average duration of the tour is 10 days, which is enough time to go on safaris and visit national parks and reserves. Experts note that tours to Senegal and Sierra Leone have great potential. Travellers are also showing considerable interest in Gambia, which has unilaterally introduced a 90-day visa-free regime for Russians. Nowadays, African countries are in also great demand because flights are closer and cheaper than to countries in Europe and North America.

“This MoU marks a significant milestone in our quest to unite Africa and Russia through tourism and investment. We are excited about the potential of this partnership to drive economic growth, create jobs, and facilitate cultural exchange. Together, we can achieve remarkable progress for our continents and contribute to global economic development. We look forward to a fruitful partnership that will benefit our regions and create a strong foundation for future cooperation.”

Members of the African Tourism Board (ATB) and their Russian counterparts will create a joint committee to ensure the effective implementation of the memorandum’s objectives. This committee will focus on building a strong foundation for ongoing collaboration and ensure that the partnership produces tangible benefits for both parties. Ncube added: “This partnership paves the way for a new era of tourism collaboration between Africa and Russia, driving economic growth, job creation, and cultural exchange. By working together, we can unlock new opportunities and create a more interconnected and prosperous world.”

The ATB is a non-profit organization headquartered in Eswatini that serves as a strategic partner among African countries in the development, marketing, and implementation of tourism programmes that meet the growing needs of local industries and the global tourism market. The ATB’s mission is to promote Africa as a leading tourism destination throughout the world.