ZAMBIA should facilitate the reduction of Jet A1 fuel price in line with the charges in the region to boost tourism in the country, the Board of Airlines representatives in Zambia has said.

Board chairperson Marcia Cannon said that the cost of Jet A1 fuel in Zambia was 'very high' and added that the price of tickets could be reduced if fuel costs were low.

Ms Cannon was presenting a paper on the role of airlines and contribution by airlines operating into and out of and within Zambia as the strategic area of improvement to be realised by the airlines to contribute to tourism.

"The reduction of Jet A1 fuel will maximise on business, as most airlines currently tanker from home base," said Ms Cannon who is Air Zimbabwe manager.

She noted that many African airlines were still struggling to go into alliance because of inhibiting impediments, saying governments should allow airlines the freedom to engage into alliances with major carriers for commercial gains.

She said for airlines to contribute towards tourism development as a pathway to a peaceful and prosperous Africa, governments and service providers need to work together to develop the necessary infrastructure.

Ms Cannon said airlines should lobby governments and public institutions to relax visa requirements within the region so that there was a uni-visa to the benefit of travellers.

She also said that the region should create a saleable African brand for its product and sell the concept of multi-destinations that was in demand by most holiday seekers.

"Africa must move from transition through guns to transition through ballot and dialogue, from poverty to prosperity and liberation for all by demonstrating the benefits achieved through tourism, like in the beautiful art and craft that our people make," she said.

She observed that the industry struggled with rising operational costs arising from fuel increases and a lot of added security features at airports and on aeroplanes following the September 11, 2001 bombings in the USA.

"Thus airlines continue to look inward in reducing costs, downsizing and rightsizing in an endeavour to stay afloat whilst travellers look for cheap ways of travelling. It is becoming increasingly difficult to balance the two. Appropriate costing of the product is essential," she said.

Despite all these challenges, she said, airlines continue to work closely with various facility providers to ensure that air travel, which was a vital mode of transport continued to be enhanced and contributed towards tourism growth.