After much planning, consultation and negotiations, the African Caribbean Travel Corridor (ACTC) is being established as a new joint venture initiative designed to transform travel, tourism and logistics connectivity between Africa and the Caribbean. The ACTC brings together three experienced organisations and industry leaders: African Caribbean Sustainability and Investment Initiative (ACSII), based in London, led by Founding Chairman David F. Roberts; The Africa Guide, led by Dr Vicki Otaruyina; and Akwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Center for Hospitality, Aviation and Tourism (ACHAT), Ghana.
The initiative responds to a longstanding challenge: despite deep historical, cultural and economic connections between Africa and the Caribbean, travelling between the two regions remains unnecessarily difficult, expensive and fragmented.
The ACTC seeks to change that.
Its objective is to develop an integrated Africa-Caribbean Travel Corridor connecting people, businesses, investors, tourists, students, professionals and families while creating new opportunities for airlines, hospitality companies, tour operators, logistics providers and other travel-related businesses.
A major component of the emerging corridor will be to improve direct air connectivity. Developments include plans involving Air Peace to increase direct services connecting Lagos with Barbados and Jamaica, creating important new gateways between West Africa and the Caribbean.
Such connections could significantly reduce the time, cost and complexity associated with travelling between the regions, while opening new markets for tourism, trade and investment.
David F. Roberts, Founding Chairman of ACSII, said:
‘For too long, the Atlantic has connected Africa and the Caribbean historically and culturally, but not sufficiently through modern transportation and commercial infrastructure. The African Caribbean Travel Corridor is about changing that. We want to make Africa-Caribbean travel easier, more affordable and commercially meaningful.’
Dr Vicki Otaruyina of The Africa Guide added:
‘The Caribbean is one of Africa’s most important global communities and markets, yet there remains a significant travel and tourism gap between our regions. ACTC is designed to turn that gap into an opportunity by creating practical pathways for people to travel, discover, invest and do business across the Atlantic.’
Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of the Africa Center for Hospitality, Aviation and Tourism, said:
‘Connectivity is fundamental to the growth of tourism. By bringing African and Caribbean tourism stakeholders together and improving access between the two regions, ACTC can contribute to a new era of tourism development, investment and collaboration.’
The ACTC will explore and develop opportunities across aviation, tourism, hospitality, logistics, travel technology, destination marketing and investment, while working with governments, airlines, airports, tourism authorities and private-sector partners.
Beyond aviation, the initiative is intended to create a wider ecosystem that supports seamless movement between Africa and the Caribbean and strengthens the commercial relationships underpinning the Africa-Caribbean economic corridor.
The launch comes at a time of growing interest in strengthening Africa-Caribbean relations and unlocking the enormous potential of the global African and Caribbean diaspora.
The partners believe that improved connectivity can become a catalyst for increased tourism, business travel, investment, cultural exchange and trade.
The future of Africa-Caribbean travel is bright.
The African Caribbean Travel Corridor intends to help make that future a reality.
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African Caribbean Travel Corridor (ACTC) – A joint venture of African Caribbean Sustainability and Investment Initiative (ACSII), The Africa Guide and the Africa Center for Hospitality, Aviation and Tourism (ACHAT