Tourism In Africa Research Articles

Tourism in Africa’s economic development: policy implications

This paper assesses the progress that has been made in realizing the contributions of tourism to Africa’s economic development. It does this by examining the nature of tourism development and identifying problems that have inhibited this. Consequently, the paper highlights the need for intra‐African co‐operation for the provision of an enabling environment and mobilization of strategic resources. It concludes that successful tourism development in Africa is predicated on attention to a range of issues such as clear tourism development objectives, integration of these into national plans, local involvement and control, regional co‐operation and integration, tourism entrepreneurship, etc. Africa’s experience may have relevance to other developing countries seeking to encourage tourism development strategy.

Tourism, business linkages and small enterprise development in South Africa

Although considerable attention is given to the prospects for developing small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa's tourism economy, very little relevant research has been undertaken in this regard. In this article, the findings are presented from over 60 detailed interviews conducted with key enterprises and entrepreneurs involved in tourism, outsourcing and small enterprise development in South Africa. The aim is to examine opportunities for outsourcing and business linkage development in South Africa's tourism economy, and to investigate the difficulties that confront the tourism SMME economy through examining the status of business linkages between large tourism enterprises and SMMEs in South Africa. The South African research is located within the context of existing works on tourism and small enterprise development in developing countries.

The impact of tourist spending in South Africa: Spatial implications

In South Africa tourism is regarded as a growth catalyst and a contributor towards the economic upliftment of poorer regions. The magnitude of the impact of tourist spending depends on the extent of leakages from the region, and the ability of the region to create backward and forward linkages. It is argued that the spatial implications of tourism might, inter alia, depend on the relative impacts of domestic versus international tourist spending. Using an input-output model, support was found for the notion that, from a regional development perspective, there should be an emphasis on the development of the domestic tourism market in the short term. As a long-term strategy, investment in transport services and infrastructure to reduce path dependency effects, more inherent in international tourism, is proposed.

Africa

WTO reported 24.7 million international tourist arrivals (excluding day-visitors) in 1998 in its Africa region, 6.4% above 1997, out of 635 million worldwide (2.5% above 1997). Receipts reported from international tourism in Africa totalled US$9.6 billion, 6.6% above 1997 (in current US$, including receipts from day-visitors, excluding international fares), out of US$439 billion worldwide (only 0.3% above 1997). Tourist arrivals, receipts and hotel capacity are presented for 50 countries. WTO reported revised data for 1998 (on 25/1/00): 25 million tourist arrivals out of 637 worldwide with receipts of US$10 billion (US$441 worldwide). Preliminary data for 1999 indicate an increase of 9% on 1998 in arrivals in Africa to 27.3 million (657 worldwide). Revised forecasts to 2010 and 2020 are also summarized.

Tourism in South Africa

The good news for South Africa's tourism industry is that the nation has broadly diverse attractions, including many unspoiled natural areas, and a well-developed infrastructure. The bad news is that large portions of the population have heretofore been excluded from proper educational and economic opportunity-thus leaving the nation with an inadequate labor supply. Additional challenges include a weak economy and an inexperienced government, crime, and a private sector that is unaccustomed to cooperative endeavor. As a result, South Africa's tourism prospects are uneven. South Africa needs to develop its tourism industry to create jobs and bring in foreign exchange. While the nation remains a potentially attractive destination, tourists are not visiting in droves.

Databank: Africa

Tourism activity and economic performance, particularly in the major tourism generating and receiving countries, are closely linked. The purpose of this section is to provide those indicators which are regarded as being most relevant to international movements and spend. In Volume 1, Number 1, information relating to the global and regional pictures of tourism were presented, together with some specific details regarding tourism activity with respect to the most significant nations. Subsequent issues have concentrated on specific world regions. In this issue, economic indicators relating to tourism in Africa are provided.

Developing Africa's Tourism Potential Prospects and Issues

In spite of Africa's great potential for tourism, there are enormous costs and negative impacts to be considered. Costs can be reduced and quality improved by: (1) proceeding gradually with tourism expansion, (2) from the errors of more touristically developed countries such as those in the Caribbean, (3) educating the resident population about the industry's costs and benefits, (4) giving Africans more participatory roles in such areas as management, and (5) ensuring that part of the revenue earned by foreign investors is reinvested rather than repatriated. Tourism is an industry sensitive to both external and domestic events. In a recession, tourists stay home or visit closer destinations. If a destination country receives bad publicity or develops a reputation as an unfriendly place to visit, only empty hotels remain with huge foreign loans to be paid. Unfortunately, some of the recent travel literature on Africa is, at best, cynical and misinformed and tends to promote negative, stereotypical images o...

Changing approaches towards tourism in Africa: Planning and research perspectives

Changing approaches towards tourism in Africa: Planning and research perspectives

International tourism in Africa: ALA bibliography no. 1: Didier van Houts (The Institute for Developing Countries, A. Geomaerelei 52, B-2000 Antwerpen, Belgium), 1978, 96 pp. Free in exchange for publication in related fields

International tourism in Africa: ALA bibliography no. 1: Didier van Houts (The Institute for Developing Countries, A. Geomaerelei 52, B-2000 Antwerpen, Belgium), 1978, 96 pp. Free in exchange for publication in related fields

Pilot Survey of Africa's Tourism Prospects. International Union of Official Travel Organisations, Centre International, Case Postale 7, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland. $30.00

Pilot Survey of Africa's Tourism Prospects. International Union of Official Travel Organisations, Centre International, Case Postale 7, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland. $30.00

Dag Hammarskjöld Seminar on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in Africa

Faced with declining earnings from the export of agricultural products, with rising population, and with an urgent need for accelerated economic growth and structural change, many African countries are today searching for new channels through which they can supplement their foreign-exchange earnings. One source of rapidly growing importance is tourism, which already plays a decisive role in the economic development of some countries.