Routes and Africa's RETOSA Agree to Strategic Partnership

Manchester, England (ots/PRNewswire) -

On 30th May 2014 Routes (part of UBM Live) and the Regional
Tourism Organization of Southern Africa (RETOSA) signed a Memorandum
of Understanding to work together to improve air connectivity and
travel facilitation to, from and within Africa.

"Collaboration between RETOSA and Routes as strategic partners is
incredibly significant and long overdue. It is our hope that this
will help advance our advocacy role in aviation development across
the Southern Africa region. We also believe that this initiative will
enhance public-private partnership and engagement in all matters
relating to air connectivity, accessibility and travel facilitation
in our region," said Simba Mandinyenya, Acting Executive Director,
RETOSA.

"Aviation is a vital catalyst for Africa's continued economic
growth as it facilitates business, trade, tourism and promotes
sustainable development and Routes events are the meeting places that
bring together the world's airlines with airports and destination
stakeholders to discuss and negotiate air service opportunities,"
said Katie Bland, Director Routes, UBM Live.

"Therefore, RETOSA and Routes share a common goal, which is to
improve air connectivity and tourism for Africa," continued Mrs.
Bland. "We are delighted that RETOSA will be supporting two of our
forthcoming Routes events to be hosted within the SADC region: Routes
Africa 2014 in Victoria Falls, hosted by Civil Aviation Authority of
Zimbabwe from 22nd - 24th June 2014; and World Routes 2015 in Durban,
hosted by KwaZulu-Natal Province from 20th - 22nd September 2015."

RETOSA is a Southern African Development Community (SADC)
institution responsible for tourism growth and development. Their
vision is to develop effective and impactful tourism initiatives in
the SADC region in order to make Southern Africa a regional
destination of choice by 2027.

RETOSA has 15 member states which include both Zimbabwe, the
destination for this year's Routes Africa, 22-24 June in Victoria
Falls, and South Africa which will see the global aviation community
arrive in force when World Routes 2015 takes place in Durban,
Kwa-Zulu Natal.

By aligning closely with Routes, RETOSA is demonstrating its
commitment to improving travel facilitation in the SADC region and
they will play an active role in driving content for the World Routes
Strategy Summit and World Tourism Summit at World Routes 2015. Routes
are confident that this partnership will also lead to improved
participation from the 15 SADC members, including Ministerial
attendance at future events.

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 are 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

Follow us on twitter: @Routesonline, @TheHUBRoutes,
@VictoriaRoutes, @NLPROU, @airlineroute

About UBM plc

- UBM plc is a global events-led marketing services and communications
company. We help businesses do business, bringing the world's buyers and sellers
together at events and online, as well as producing and distributing news and
specialist content. Our 5,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into
expert teams which serve commercial and professional communities, helping them to do
business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.
- For more information, go to http://www.ubm.com; follow us on Twitter at
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ots Originaltext: UBM Live Routes Ltd
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Contact:
For further press information please contact: Victoria Jones,
Communications Manager, Routes, T: +44-(0)161-234-2730, E:
pr@routesonline.com