In Africa, 1 out of 14 jobs is in the tourism industry. This represent a total workforce of 21 million people. This was revealed in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Economic Development in Africa Report 2017, focused on “Tourism for transformative and inclusive growth".

According to the report, from 1995 to 2014, international tourist arrivals on the continent have increased by 6% yearly, while tourism revenues soared 9% per year. Tourism export revenues rose from $14 billion to $47 billion over the period. This brought tourism’s contribution to Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) to 8.5%, the same source reports, adding an even more surprising figure: two of three tourists in Africa are…from Africa itself.

Though these figures are clear proof of Africa’s tourism sector, fact remains that it still has to overcome a number of challenges to fully bloom. Hence, in order to achieve the first ten-year implementation of Africa Union’s agenda 2063 aimed at doubling the contribution of tourism to Africa’s GDP, efforts are to be made in the areas of air transport, free circulation of persons, currency convertibility and most importantly in regards to the integration of the tourism industry in government-designed development plans.

Issues of security, peace should be granted a particular interest. The same stands for improving the continent’s image which is mostly known for its conflicts and diseases. In regards to outlook, the UNCTAD indicates that 11.7 million jobs will be created in the tourism sector by 2027. It should also improve the status of women in Africa since more than 30% of tourism companies across the continent are headed by a woman, thus the highest percentage worldwide. This is one of the reasons that led Mukhisa Kituyi, secretary general of UNCTAD, to say: “Tourism is a dynamic sector with phenomenal potential in Africa. Properly managed it can contribute immensely to diversification and inclusion for vulnerable communities”.

Aaron Akinocho