Eight Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries have committed to working towards a "uni-visa" for the region by 2010 when the World Cup soccer finals is staged in South Africa.

Tourism ministers of the countries met on Monday at Johannesburg International Airport to discuss how the region could benefit from the world's soccer showcase five years later.

"We need much more free movement of people," said South African Environment and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk on the notion of a one visa requirement for visitors to the region.

"By the end of June tenders by the SADC Secretariat will go outto initiate work on the single visa," Van Schalkwyk said, quoted by the SAPA news agency.

A campaign that encouraged a marriage between the soccer event and the trans-frontier conservation areas and national parks would help tourism in the region.

"All the countries (at Monday's meeting) committed themselves to this unanimously," Van Schalkwyk said.

The countries represented were South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique. Senior officials from Angola were also present.

He said that in the next two to three weeks, 30 km of fencing in the Great Limpopo Park, running into South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, would be lifted.

In the latter part of this year, a new border post would open between Mozambique and South Africa, he added.

"The meeting considered a new strategy, identifying seven specific trans-frontier parks and the necessary upgrading and investment to ensure that these facilities offer travelers to the World Cup the opportunity to experience Africa beyond the walls of the soccer stadium," read a statement.

Infrastructure needed to be developed, including landing strips, accommodation and the upgrading of fencing.

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2005)