Kinshasa, October 6th, 2025 (CPA).- The Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the European Union delegation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) called on Monday for the return of tourism to protected areas and the facilitation of visas for tourists, during a meeting with the Minister of Tourism in his office in Kinshasa. ‘The European Union has long supported the DRC in the management of its protected areas, thereby contributing to economic development while involving local populations. We now want to develop and support the arrival of tourists once again,’ said Mr. Fabrice Basile, Chargé d’affaires ai of the European Union delegation in the DRC.
Mr Basile emphasised the need to make it easier for tourists to obtain visas so that they can visit iconic sites such as Salonga National Park, where the reintroduction of bonobos could attract many visitors. He also mentioned the importance of allowing tourists to observe okapis in their natural habitat and of preserving wildlife in the vast natural areas of the DRC.
For his part, the Minister of Tourism, Didier Mazenga, was receptive to the concerns expressed and reaffirmed his personal commitment to supporting the European Union and the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) in the return and development of tourism in the country.