Africa Tourism in Change: Past and Present

Abstract

Globally it is apparent that tourism exists in a state of continual change that impacts destinations and the tourism system. The nexus of "tourism and change" requires research perspectives at different scales of analysis. In addition, it demands the extended application of historical perspectives in order to inform contemporary debates and practices. Arguably, change in tourism in sub-Saharan Africa is not a new phenomenon. Over recent decades, however, several events and processes have intensified the shifting complexions of African tourism, most recently the COVID-19 pandemic. It is argued that the pandemic poses a host of new challenges for research concerning tourism and change in Africa. Welcome signs exist of an emerging African scholarship that is engaged and addresses several of the challenges caused by the COVID-19 crisis. This emergent strand of writings includes works on both Africa tourism in change, past and present.