Tourism by the Numbers: Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa

Over the decades, tourism has experienced continued growth and deepening ‎diversification to become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world. ‎Modern tourism is closely linked to development and encompasses a growing number ‎of new destinations. These dynamics have turned tourism into a key driver for socio-‎economic progress (UNWTO).

In 2014, international tourism generated US$ 1.5 trillion in export earnings, and International tourist arrivals grew by 4.3 % in 2014 to 1.133 billion. The UNWTO forecasts a growth in international tourist arrivals of between 3% and 4% in 2015. An ever increasing number of destinations have opened up, and invested in tourism, turning it into a key driver of socio-economic progress through the creation of jobs and enterprises, export revenues and infrastructure development.

Over the past six decades, tourism has experienced continued expansion and diversification, to become one of the largest and fastest growing economic sectors in the world. Many new destinations have emerged in addition to the traditional favourites of Europe and North America (UNWTO Tourism Highlight 2015). Despite occasional shocks according to the report, tourism has shown virtually uninterrupted growth. International tourist arrivals have increased from 25 million globally in 1950, to 278 million in 1980, 527 million in 1995, and 1133 million in 2014.

International tourist arrivals in Africa are estimated to have increase by 2% in 2014. In absolute terms, the region welcomed a total of 56 million international tourists.. International tourism receipts up 3% reaching $36 billion. However, the UNWTO warned that these figures should be interpreted with caution, as results are still based on the comparatively limited data available so far.

According to a World Bank publication (Tourism for Africa: Harnessing Tourism for Growth and Improved Livelihoods), this more than any other time is the moment for pursuing tourism as a dynamic development option in Sub-Sahara Africa. The article argued that; although Africa was badly hit by  the global crisis, the continent avoided an even worse growth shortfall in 2009, thanks to prudent macroeconomic policies by government and financial support from multilateral agencies, and rebounded in 2010.

Tourism is one of the key industries driving Africa's current economic growth and if managed sustainably, it can easily become the leading industry throughout the entire region. The UNWTO argues that; today, the business volume of tourism equals or even surpasses that of oil exports, ‎food products or automobiles. Considering the fact that Sub-Saharan Africa received only 6.7 million international visitors in 1990 compared to over 33 million in 2012, the above argument could easily be justified.

However, for Sub-Saharan Africa to fully achieve and harness its tourism potential, several existing constraints have to be overcome notable among them, security and safety concern. The continent should be able to win the confidence of travellers by guaranteeing their security and safety during their visits. Improve infrastructure and skilful tourism experts to march or even challenge those of establish destinations. And finally, a variety of readily available tourism products and services in line with technology advancement could provide a vital breakthrough.