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Encouragingly, the latest data from UNWTO showcased a positive rebound for African tourism, indicating that the industry was steadily recovering from the devastating impact of the global pandemic. By the end of the first quarter of 2023, international arrivals across Africa had surged to 88 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Notably, North Africa demonstrated remarkable resilience, with arrivals surpassing the pre-pandemic figures of 2019 by four per cent during the same period.
The revival of tourism is reflected in the growth of international tourism receipts, which reached an impressive USD one billion in 2022, signifying a 50 per cent increase in real terms compared to 2021. Some African destinations, such as Morocco and Mauritius, performed exceptionally well, surpassing their pre-pandemic tourism receipts in the first quarter of 2023.
To discuss the region’s growth and untapped opportunities, the tourism leaders from across the African continent convened for the 66th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for Africa on July 27, 2023.
The main focus of the meeting was to explore the potential of tourism in generating employment opportunities and attracting investments, while also addressing the pressing challenges posed by the climate crisis. The UNWTO Agenda for Africa underwent adaptations to align with the evolving needs of the tourism industry on the continent. This new vision for African tourism emphasises the importance of strong governance, increased education and training, and the creation of more and better job opportunities.
The Indian travel buyers were represented by 94 companies from across 8 Indian cities – Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata. a. At the three-day event, 86 Australian tourism businesses displayed their products and services, demonstrating the country’s rising appeal as a holiday destination for Indian tourists.
This gathering brought together representatives from member states, international organisations, and the private sector to deliberate on reshaping the role of tourism as a catalyst for development and opportunity throughout the region.During the meeting, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili articulated the organisation’s commitment to promoting innovation, advocating for the branding of Africa as a desirable tourist destination, facilitating travel, and fostering growth through strategic investments and public-private partnerships.
Delegates from 33 countries participated in the meeting, including 22 Ministers of Tourism, two Deputy Ministers, and four Ambassadors.
Throughout the meeting, UNWTO presented a comprehensive overview of its achievements over the past year, with a particular focus on core priorities for tourism development in Africa.
UNWTO unveiled a set of Investment Guidelines for Mauritius, aiming to connect potential investors with tourism projects in the country. Similar publications are being developed for other African nations, such as Tanzania, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, and Zambia. Additionally, UNWTO has already organized two Tourism Investment Forums in Africa, further facilitating the process of attracting investments.
Secondly, recognising tourism’s potential to promote gender equality and empower the African youth, UNWTO updated the delegates on the progress of the Women in Tourism Leadership for Africa Committee. The organization’s focus on education and training was highlighted, including the success of the Travel Hospitality and Tourism Education Summit held in Zambia in May 2023, and plans to establish an International Academy in Nigeria.
Delegates were also informed about UNWTO’s efforts to empower African tourism professionals to take ownership of the narrative, exemplified by the Brand Africa Think Tank Dialogue held twice, as well as forthcoming plans for a UNWTO Media Training Workshop.
In close collaboration with its member states from the African region, UNWTO has updated its Agenda for Africa – Tourism for Inclusive Growth. This revised roadmap takes into account the challenges posed by the post-pandemic tourism landscape and incorporates the priorities outlined by the member states.
Moreover, the meeting acknowledged the importance of addressing climate change and ensuring sustainable tourism practices. UNWTO continues to lead the charge in fostering greater sustainability within the tourism sector. The One Planet Tourism Network, spearheaded by UNWTO, plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainability efforts. Progress made in the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism was also highlighted during the meeting.
In conjunction with the Regional Commission meeting, Pololikashvili also conducted an official visit to Le Morne, which has been recognised as one of UNWTO’s Best Tourism Villages.
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