(Ecofin Agency) - In a report released during 41st Annual World Tourism Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, independent provider of strategic market research Euromonitor has disclosed that arrivals of foreign tourists in Africa have increased by 6.5% in 2017, to reach 18.55 million, against 16.35 million in 2012. 

Euromonitor attributes the increase to various factors including “the digital integration and increasing interaction between hotels, airlines, and car rental companies using platforms such as social media, meta-search engines and the penetration of online travel agents”.

Other factors include niche tourism, or tailored tourism like safaris, eco-tourism, which is much appreciated by wealthy people seeking to discover more exotic destinations in Africa. 

South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Botswana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Cameroon, Mauritius and Tanzania are the main destinations driving tourism in Africa. These nations together total 70% of arrivals recorded in 2017.

By 2022, international arrivals in sub-Saharan Africa should reach 25 million, as tariffs get more competitive in comparison to other destinations with similar offers. 

Fiacre E. Kakpo