(ThyBlackMan.com) That is the final conclusion of the UNCTAD (United Nations Conference for Trade And Development) 2017 reports about tourism business in Africa. Despite of the terrible atmosphere of breaking news describing political wars, health crisis, humanitarian disasters, the statistics do really make africans smile and hope better success. The investigations cover two periods, 1995-1998 and 2011-2014. In 1995-1998, 24 million tourists visited the continent resulting $14 billion profits. In 2011-2014, there were 56 million for $47 billion profits. Clearly, the data tripled. Tourism business today contributes at 8.5 per cent to the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP). With international tourist arrivals, tourism revenues increased at 6% and 9%, respectively, each year between 1995 and 2014.
That industry provides now more than 21 million jobs. Approximately 9 million jobs were available in the past decade. The number of jobs is expected to reach 11,7 million between 2016 and 2026. From 2013 to 2014, the growth of the jobs number was the most important in Egypt (+89,000), Madagascar (+84,000), Nigeria (+79,000), South Africa (+59,000). The sector supports 7% of 
current jobs. 47% of hotels and restaurants employees are female. Half of them are aged 25 or less. 31% of the head managers of these societies are female compared to 21% in other field. 36% of the Ministers of tourism are female, a record regarding the others continents. African tourism can contribute to ameliorate female life standard conditions.
African tourism has particularity to be the sector seducing the most the investors. In 2016, the continent could benefit $30 billion investments against $26 billion during 2011-2014. It significantly participates in social progress. For example, the islands like Mauritius, Seychelles, Cap-Vert, closely depends economically on tourism business. Tourism represents a remarkable part in their gross domestic product, Seychelles 62 %, Cap-Vert 43 %, and Mauritius 27 %, the highest rates in Africa. So for them, tourism business may be seen as a kingly way to economic emergence.
In 2011-2014, the Northern Africa was the most visited region on the continent, Egypt 9,9 million, Morrocco 9,8 million, Tunisia 6,8 million, and then South Africa 9,2 million. Eastern Africa was in 3rd position among the most visited regions. In 2015, Morrocco was the sole country to welcome 10 million international tourists. The tourists arrivals should climb at 5% annually between 2010 and 2030 to bring 134 million in 2030. Kenya, Tanzania also are precious destinations.
Abderrafie Zouitene, the head of the Morrocco Tourism Office in Paris at the IFTM Top Resa 2017 edition declared “Marrocco wish is to receive over 11 million tourists”. Mouhamadou Bamba M’Bow, head of the Senegal Tourism Promoting Agency explained “we coordinate goods mechanism to revive our tourism. Senegalese tourism is developing”. Senegal plan is to attract 3 million tourists by 2023, the triple of the actual number. In 4 years, the tourists visiting Côte d’Ivoire could go up from 250,000 to 800,000.
The African Union, even if some specialists have doubts, is trying to apply the “2014-2023 point of the 2063 Agenda”. It’s a strategy for the creation of a specialized african tourism organization which aim is to double tourism contribution to the gross development product by 2014 to 2023. Some investors refer to a historical conference and state that if 12 african countries respect the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision, they would liberalize airspace and create 155, 000 jobs, increase the travelers number to 5 million, take part at 1,3 billion to the continent GDP and give 1 billion profit to consumers.
But the crucial obstacle to the african tourism development remains the political instability, islamist and terrorist attacks, health crisis and environment, lack of infrastructures. The sector has potential for a bright future. African tourism actors have a challenge. The tourism sector could end million people poverty and rise peace and safety.
Source: www.unctad.org
Staff Writer; Abu-Jahlil Astrid Chacha
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