Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, and Angola have been selected to pilot the new SADC Tourism Univisa, a regional travel permit designed to simplify cross-border movement and promote tourism within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
This announcement was made in a communique following the Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Harare.
The “Summit” was held on 23 May 2025, under the theme: “Transfrontier Conservation Areas-25 years of Cooperation for Regional Integration and Sustainable Development.”
The Tourism Univisa is designed to allow foreign tourists to travel seamlessly between participating SADC countries, with expectations that it will significantly boost intra-regional tourism and stimulate economic growth across member states.
"The Summit commended five Member States, namely Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, for accepting to pilot the SADC Tourism univisa, a regional instrument which is expected to simplify travel and promote regional tourism within SADC countries to boost intra-regional tourism,” according to the communique.
It further said that the Summit urged Member States to strengthen the implementation of the SADC Law Enforcement Anti-Poaching (LEAP) Strategy as an essential tool for the region’s collective efforts in tackling wildlife crime, reinforcing the need for multi-level cooperation among Member States, International Cooperating Partners, and local communities in TFCAs.
The Summit also reaffirmed the importance of Transfrontier Conservation Areas as key symbols of regional cooperation, peace, and sustainable development.
The international community was called upon to support the SADC region's successes in conservation and influence global decisions, particularly through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to promote sustainable wildlife use.
This announcement was made in a communique following the Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Harare.
The “Summit” was held on 23 May 2025, under the theme: “Transfrontier Conservation Areas-25 years of Cooperation for Regional Integration and Sustainable Development.”
The Tourism Univisa is designed to allow foreign tourists to travel seamlessly between participating SADC countries, with expectations that it will significantly boost intra-regional tourism and stimulate economic growth across member states.
"The Summit commended five Member States, namely Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, for accepting to pilot the SADC Tourism univisa, a regional instrument which is expected to simplify travel and promote regional tourism within SADC countries to boost intra-regional tourism,” according to the communique.
It further said that the Summit urged Member States to strengthen the implementation of the SADC Law Enforcement Anti-Poaching (LEAP) Strategy as an essential tool for the region’s collective efforts in tackling wildlife crime, reinforcing the need for multi-level cooperation among Member States, International Cooperating Partners, and local communities in TFCAs.
The Summit also reaffirmed the importance of Transfrontier Conservation Areas as key symbols of regional cooperation, peace, and sustainable development.
The international community was called upon to support the SADC region's successes in conservation and influence global decisions, particularly through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to promote sustainable wildlife use.
