According to the World Bank, while tourism has established itself as a driver for economic growth and job creation across the world, it remains an underdeveloped possibility in Africa (2011). Tourism has the ability to drive Africa’s economic growth and employment creation if properly implemented. The industry has the potential to make a substantial contribution to the goal for social inclusion, since cultural endowments and natural resources may be used to provide possibilities for local communities.

Kenya’s typically groomed beaches were coated three feet deep with thick layers of seaweed months into the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. The Indian Ocean seems to have used the closed hotels and lack of guests to retake the white beaches along the typically busy shoreline. Across most of Africa, the narrative was similar: pandemic-induced security measures and stalled planes destroyed the continent’s travel business, causing many operators to declare insolvency or discontinue operations. The African Union reported in July 2020 that Africa had lost approximately $55 billion in aviation and tourist earnings and 2 million jobs during the first three months of the epidemic. According to the International Monetary Fund, real GDP in African tourism-dependent nations dropped by 12% in 2020.

Tourism that is strictly regulated may be used to conserve the environment and fund conservation. This is a concept that has yet to be completely realized. The expenses of control, preservation, and monitoring might be too expensive for governments, both monetarily and technically. Ecotourism focuses on pure natural surroundings that have not been tampered with. It reduces the environmental effect of tourism. It increases job and income prospects for local residents while also encouraging environmentalism by giving economic incentives in its favor.


A people’s culture is what distinguishes them from other human communities in the common humanity. The tourist business provides several chances to invest in Africa’s rich local communities, encourage business activity, and create jobs for the youth and women. Architectural and archaeological treasures, culinary activities, festivals or events, historic or historical sites, monuments and landmarks, museums and exhibitions, national parks and animal sanctuaries, religious venues, temples and churches are all examples of cultural tourist experiences.

As tourist industry to Africa grows in importance as a socioeconomic sector, it is critical for nations in the region to effectively implement tourism product development strategies; approaches that enhance a more competitive Africa tourism option in the marketplace while also meeting the needs and desires of prospective visitors. The transfer of technology and know-how in the hotel and tourist industries is a source of worry. Understanding the information demands of investors and the usefulness of building up “one-stop” shops for such information should never be ignored. The cornerstones of effective tourist development are financial, economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Without any of these four factors, the sector will suffer.

REFERENCES:
- Backman, K., & Munanura, I. Ecotourism in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Chen, J. (2019). Advances in hospitality and leisure. Emerald Publishing Limited.
- Christie, I., Fernandes, E., Messerli, H., & Twining-Ward, L. (2017). Tourism in Africa. Agence Française de Développement and the World Bank.
- Keitumetse, S. (2016). African cultural heritage conservation and management. Springer.
- Matias, A., Nijkamp, P., & Sarmento, M. (2013). Quantitative methods in tourism economics. Physica-Verlag.
- Santana-Gallego, M., & Fourie, J. (2020). Tourism falls apart: How insecurity affects African tourism. Tourism Economics, 135481662097812.
- Sindiga, I. (2018). Tourism and African Development. Routledge.
- Africa Tourism Report 2013
- Culture and Tourism: A framework for further analysis
- Webunwto.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com. (2022). Retrieved 23 February 2022
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