Liberia Says Visa-Free Africa Will Fail Without Better Transport

Victoria, Seychelles: Liberia’s Director General for Tourism, Princess Eva Cooper, says Africa must improve transportation across the continent if visa-free travel is to deliver real benefits for tourism and economic growth.

Speaking at the 69th Meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) and the conference on strengthening human capital for tourism growth in Victoria, Seychelles, Cooper said opening borders alone will not solve the challenges facing travelers if transportation remains difficult and expensive. The meeting brought together tourism ministers, senior government officials, private sector representatives, and other tourism stakeholders from across Africa.

She said African countries need to deal with the barriers that make travel between neighboring nations difficult. According to Cooper, the conversation should go beyond air travel and include investments in road and rail networks that can make movement across the continent easier for people, businesses, and tourists.

Using Liberia as an example, Cooper noted that a flight from Liberia to Belgium can take less than six hours, while traveling from Liberia to Nigeria, a much closer African country, often takes longer because of poor direct connections. She said the situation shows why improving connectivity should be treated as a priority.

Cooper also said discussions on Africa’s transport challenges should not remain in conference halls. She called on the UN Tourism Secretary-General to bring together African Presidents, Heads of State, ministers, regional institutions, and development partners to find practical solutions that will improve movement across the continent.

She said a visa-free Africa can only succeed if people can travel easily from one country to another. Cooper reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to working with regional and international partners to improve connectivity and make African tourism more accessible, competitive, and connected.