Routes Africa Heads to Zimbabwe in 2014

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UBM Live Routes Ltd

09 Jul, 2013, 14:07 GMT

MANCHESTER, England, July 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

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

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