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  Tourism in Africa : what are the realities of tourism in the developing countries ?

Franklin ADEJUWON - Chairman of the Tourism Commission of Nigeria

 

 

PREAMBLE

Optimism is normally a tendency to take the most hopeful view but reality is truly the state of things as they are, the actual and the truth we must all face.

“If you drop a frog into boiling water, it will hop out. If you place it in cool water and then heat it, the frog will boil to death”. I am not too sure how correct this story is but I am just to point out that the world is already loosing its freedom by degrees simply as a result of bigotry and fanaticism, “Today the world has changed and we do not know when it will come to normal” Commonwealth Secretary 28 th September, 2001.

Although the “Tourism Summit” is presently faced with the question of the dynamics of tourism and people’s expectation, the reality is that how much optimistic can the world be with the present trend and threat to liberty and freedom of movement ? In the year 2000 according to World Tourism Organization Source, nearly 50 million more international trips were made with United States of America receiving in arrivals as much. The total members of arrivals in the year 2000 was estimated by World Tourism Organization to be 698 million. In essence, the World Tourism grew by an estimated 7.4 per cent which was an unprecetendent growth in nearly a decade and almost twice the growth in 1999.

The global peace and boom in the World Economy gave impetus to the growth in international tourism and gave hope that tourism was going to boom in the millenium.

The World Tourism within the last couple of months has viciously been antagonized by the simple word “terrorism” and this has not only crippled movement of people, it has almost paralyzed all the sectors of tourism services such as airlines, hotels e.t.c as well as employment of labour.

Presently therefore, the World is not only faced with the reality of the present time but peace and travel safety in the World for some time to come which should re-kindle the required confidence in tourism and the hospitality industry.

 

INTRODUCTION

The general concept of tourism is that it is a multi-dimensional industry with multi-faceted values. It’s values spread from supporting nations physical, social and political growth to economic growth which is the main reason why most of the countries in the world today embrace tourism development. Beyond this are other advantages which are rather subjective than complimentary, such as enhancing understanding among peoples, promoting international relations and in total, providing supportive impetus to the globalization of the world through travel interactions and knowledge.

The principles of tourism as stated below and as enunciated by the World Tourism Organization in the code of ethics for tourism support the above opinion :

• Contributor to mutual understanding and respect between people’s and societies
• Vehicle for industrial and collective fulfillment
• A factor of sustainable physical and economic development
• A beneficial activity for host countries and communities
• Right of the working class and entrepreneurs in the tourism industry
• Support the above opinion.

Factors Influencing Tourism Development in Developing Countries

When considering tourism development in developing countries, there are some specific factors which should be put into consideration such as :

• Propensity of developing countries towards tourism development
• Economic tendencies and historical factors
• Proximity to tourism catchment market and corridor
• Proximity to the world moneybags.

A developing country by common understanding is a country that has not aspired to the level of a world power per se. It is a country with growing economy whose general development is not yet mature. It is neither a potential industrialized country nor a classified manufacturing country.

Much as the word or category “under-developed” has been annulled by the general principles of the United nations, it has become obvious that such countries as those in Africa with relatively impoverished conditions and very insignificant level of development are placed on the same category as the highly developed countries of Asia and South America.

Categorization of developing countries as it relates to tourism growth and development differ at respective levels of development. While some countries classified by United Nations as developing are already at different advance stages of development within areas of high tech, infrastructure, nuclear power source, and tourism such as India, Brazil and many South America countries, some other countries so identified as developing countries particularly countries in Africa are either just in the wake of awareness to civilization or still groping in darkness. This apparent inequality in the contemporary world predetermines development of tourism in developing countries as well.

Propensity towards tourism development of a given country particularly that of a developing country is very significant and relative to tourism development. Countries with relative advantages in tourism products such as historical, cultural evolution, geo-political impact are susceptible to natural tourism development. Examples of this are Egypt with her historical background, Brazil which is popular with her yearly cultural display, Saudi Arabia noted for religious tourism e.t.c.

Apart from availability of tourism products, tourism development in many developing countries, are tied to economic tendencies. Tourism is capital intensive as much as it is an economic multiplier which contributes immensely to foreign exchange earning and circulation of the local currency. Most developing countries are inundated with a lot of problems such as provision of basic infrastructure, education, health facilities e.t.c which make it imperative on them to order their priorities. If tourism does not provide the salient answer to a pressing national question, it is not likely to be favoured in the development plan. An example is Nigeria which is well endowed with tremendous varieties of tourism products but whose tourism development has hitherto not been brought to bare as a result of its ranking to other priorities of the nation.

However, there are some exceptional circumstances where some poor countries tourism industry had grown outside there economic priorities.

Such countries development was influenced by their colonial masters who discovered and developed their tourism potentials to satisfy their recreational interests rather than for economic reasons. Such developments were inherited at the countries independence. Within this category are most of the East Africa countries which today are not only faced with the problems of management but maintenance of discipline and sustenance of image left behind by their colonial masters.

Another point of relative advantage is that some developing countries are advantageously located within the tourism Catchment Market and Tourism Corridor in so much that their tourism development were influenced more by their strategic positioning than their propensity to develop tourism. Examples of such countries are the Mediterranean countries such as Malta and Caribbean Islands. Besides lying within tourism corridor, some of these countries are very close to the moneybags which account for most of their basic infrastructures and tourism development such as British Virgin Islands, Maldives, Malta.

From the foregoing, one may admit that the realities of tourism in developing countries are complex and while some countries benefit from their proximity to European, America civilization and influence, the African Countries are potentially behind in tourism development because of their distances from such opportunities as enumerated above.

However, World Tourism Organization favours an upward trend of tourism in developing countries in the millennium particularly in Africa “owing in particular to strong economic improvement” as well as political changes in some African Countries which embrace stability and peace. (Table 3)

Growth of Real Gross Domestic Product (Annual % change)

Developing countries

Regional Groups	1998	1999	2000
Africa	3.4	3.1	5
Asia	3.7	5.3	5
Middle East and Europe	3.2	1.8	3
Western Hemisphere (Americas)	2.2	0.1	3

Source : International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook 82

Realities of Tourism in Developing Countries as it relates to Africa

The Africa Case

Africa was once described as a Dark Continent perhaps because of its ultimate geographical location which made it inaccessible to the rest of the world for a long time. George H.T. Kimble once expressed “the darkest thing about Africa has always been our ignorance of it”.

Africa was also described as the “white man’s grave yard’ because of its peculiar disease – “Malaria fever”. But Africa was not as distant from Europe and America as Australia and New Zealand nor was malaria fever isolated to the continent only.

In true sense, the natural geographical positioning of the continent and the difference in peoples created the ambivalence of a continent which Hugh Finley and Co had described “the desolate beauty of the Earth” in their publication “discover the rythms of Africa”.

However, the unknown and ignorance of Africa gave impetus to many adventures culminating in many explorations carried out by Magellan, Lander Brothers, Mungo Park and many others. These explorations can be described as the first tourists incursion into Africa. Subsequently, historical and archeological findings opened up Africa first as a land of sunshine and secondly as the source of human origin as reported by archeological finds.

Africa is also known as the cradle of civilization as indicated by the history of the Egyptians.

A continent with vast unique geographical and geomorphology features spanning from various vegetational belts such as the world vastest arid zone of the Sahara Desert through thick rain forest, mangrove, montane vegetation to the beautiful geomophological formations which have made Africa the conglomerate of the natural geographical features of the world.

The unique flora species such as “Baobab”, Mahogany and Iroko Trees ; the Khalahari Desert in the South, the Transval in the South, Mounts Kenya (5199 m) and Kilimanjaro (5895 m), the Victoria Lake and Victoria Falls, the Wild Life, e.t.c all attest to the credence of Africa as the basic geographical museum with unparallel features to any other continent of the world in fauna and flora.

Africa is known as the home of the largest collection of wild life in the entire world; hence the popularity of Safari tourism which today has become one of the most popular segments of tourism. It is to be noted that Safari tourism took its source from Africa i.e. Kenya. It is a Swahili word invented by tourists who were on wild life expedition in East Africa which today has become a prominent word in different dictionaries of the world.

Politically, Africa may not be claimed to be much of significance to the world politics as it has neither nuclear power as to be a threat to world peace nor industrialized enough to make significant incursion into the World Economy. Though some of the countries in Africa such as Nigeria and Gabon fall within the World Petroleum producing countries, the sustenance of such countries are still tied to the economy and political will of the advanced countries which purchase the crude oil from them.

Growth of Tourism in Africa

The growth of tourism in Africa has been generally slow. While in some circumstances its development has been isolated to some specific regions with relative European influence and investment support such as North Africa, some parts of East Africa and South Africa, some other countries have either been neglected or involved in very fragile tourism activities.

Apart from geographical positioning, those countries with highly developed tourism industry lie within the traditional destinations of tourists and backed up by historical circumstances.

Table 4 - Selected Destination in Africa

Tourist Destination	Tourist Motivation	Potential Products
Egypt	Historical Religions	Birth Place of the greatest civilization of the world Exploration of the pyramids Egyptian museum and administration of pharaonic treasures The great temples of karnals & Luxor Red Sea Marine Life Mount Sinaï where Moses received the Ten Commandments
Morocco	Geographical Proximity to Europe Historical tradition	Geographical diverse with four mountain Ranges : the Rif, the Middle Atlas, the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas Centa and Meliua which were Spanish enclave Mediterranean Front
Tunisia	Historical Exploration Mediterranean Front	Roman Cathage, Dougs and Bulla Regia The onled el-Hadef Ksour Camel trekking in the desert near Douz Commencing point for trans-Sahara automobile expedition
Ghana	Historical – Slavery Fauna & flora	Exploration of the slave route Games viewing Eco-tourism
Nigeria	Historical Cultural Geographical Political Economic	Badagry Slave Route Usmanda-Fodio Tomb Bussa Falls Mungo Park death place Largest concentrations of the black race Wildlife of forest reserves National parks Ecological diverse Polerisation of culture Business
Kenya	Geographical Ecology - Fauna & flora Beach Resort	Mount Kenya Birthplace of Safari, Tourism – wildlife Mombassa National Parks Reserves
Tanzania	Geographical Ecological	Kilimanjaro , Africa Highest Mountain National Parks Ngorongo Crater Mt Mem
South Africa	Historical Wildlife Geographical – climate Economic	Historic town of Cape Town Vineyards Drakensberg Range Zulus National Parks

Fundamental Problems Inhibiting Tourism Growth in Africa

• Lack of Basic Infrastructure
• Insecurity of Life and Property
• Geographical Positioning
• Economic Problems
• Market Competition
• Image

Tourism is a sensitive industry which can only thrive and flourish within areas of acceptable conducive atmosphere and where basic infrastructures are in place and function. Lack of basic infrastructure such as good roads, electricity, water supply and comfortable tourist accommodation are still very predominant in a lot of African Countries. Where some of these are available, they are poorly managed.

Insecurity of life and property emanating from poverty and resulting in armed robbery as well as spate of hooliganism and threats not only to intending visitors but to foreign investors who would have wanted to invest in tourism in some parts of Africa. Similarly is political instability which often brings about changes in government policies. Example of the above is Zimbabwe where the recent changes in government policies are already crippling the entire economy of the country tourism inclusive.

Geographical positioning of Africa especially the South of Sahara cannot also be ruled as part of the causes for the continent’s poor international tourism development. Although the entire world is shrinking to becoming a global village, it is indeed yet difficult to pull Africa into this fold because of its incompatibility with other continents in many ways. Politics have become endemic disease for misunderstanding within the continent and until of recent when the continent started yielding to democratic dispensation in many countries, Africa was virtually a political musical chair for several violent and unprogressive military rule.

Hitherto, market competition between tourist receiving countries particularly Europe and Africa was a disadvantage to Africa which has very little to offer compared to the well-developed luxuries of Europe. The situation became more critical in recent years when distortions of image of Africa tourism destinations such as Kenya and South Africa are making it rather difficult for tour operators to sell Africa. Africa is also faced with the H.I.V scourge which are sufficiently scaring to international tourists.

Transportation accessibility from the tourism generating countries to Africa still poses a great problem to the growth of international tourism. Africa is neither accessible by road, and by rail the only means of transportation is the air transportation. However, such air travel cannot stand in competition with other regions which operate more favourable conditions and packages for tourists. For example, it is much cheaper to travel from London to New York than from Lagos to London which are destinations of equal distances. When fares, comfort, security and packages are involved, tourists shall always opt for destinations of optima advantages except in special cases.

 

Table - Lowest Fare (Excursion)

Lagos – London	$1157	=N=131.898
London – New-York	$525	=N=59.850

Inspite of the above problems, World Tourism Organization analysis show an upward trend in the international tourism arrivals since 1970 with “Africa out performing the world as a whole”.

Table 5 - International Tourist Arrivals, 1980-1998 : Africa and the World.

-	Africa	Africa	le monde	Africa Share	Africa Share
Year	Arrivals (Million)	Average Annual Growth Rate (%)	Arrivals (Million)	Average Annual Growth Rate (%)	(% of World) Arrivals
1980	7,3	11,8 (1970-1980)	285,9	5,6 (1970-1980)	2,6
1990	15,0	7,4 (1980-1990)	457,2	4,8 (1980-1990)	3,3
1995	20,2	6,1 (1990-1995)	565,4	4,3 (1990-1995)	3,6
1998	24,9	7,4 (1995-1998)	636,6	4,0 (1995-1998)	3,9

Source : World Tourism Organization (WTO) (Data as in WTO database July 2000)

This growth can not be credited to the generality of Africa but to specific Africa tourist destinations such as South Africa which is influenced by the dismantling of apartheid in 1998 and efforts of Nelson Mandela to relunch South Africa into the family of Nations; Ghana’s new tourism policy and drive under Jerry Rawlings; development of new promotional strategies on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa especially in Morocco; improved image in East Africa particularly in Uganda, Kenya and installation of democratic dispensation in Nigeria. All these account for the upward trend in tourist arrivals in Africa.

Generally, the performances in the five sub-region i.e. North Africa, Central Africa, West Africa, East Africa, South Africa so far have been dictated more by political reasons rather than economic and this can be noticed in table 6 :

Table 6 : WTO FORECAST TABLE

Arrivals (000) Growth Rate (%) p.a

-	Base Year 1995	Forecasts 2000 2010 2020	Overall 1995-2020	2000-2010 2010-2020
Total Africa North West Central East Southern Other Africa Americas North Caribbean Central South Other Americas East Asia/Pacific North-East South-East Australasia Other East-Asia/Pacific Europe Northern Western Central/Eastern Southern Mediterranean East Mediterranean Middle East South Asia Non Specified	20 155 8 551 1 132 819 151 2 552 3 318 579 649 532 4 0 45 68 472 185 55 92 140 6 644 1 304 3 992 172 899 37 240 796 63 2 980	27'381--46'996--77,316 13'211--24'294--41'258 1'397---2'051---3'014 958--1'283--1'717 178----226----287 3'931--7'375--12'638 6'050--12'183--21'776 697--1'176--1'826 794--1 416--2 284 640--1'129--1'767 5-----8-----12 0-----0-----0 63---126---242 87---153---262 519--1'254--2'481 209---502---990 55---176---379 127---304---632 127---271---480 7'982--12'694--19'621 1'611--2'750--4'357 4'717--7'157--10'457 254---700---1'731 1'045--1'479--2'078 51----98----178 303---1'510---820 1'002--1'646--2'699 89---190---351 3'782--5'503--8'621	5,5 6,5 4,0 3,0 2,6 6,6 7,8 4,7 5,2 4,9 5,1 5,1 7,0 5,5 6,9 6,9 8,0 8,0 5,1 4,4 4,9 3,9 9,7 3,4 6,5 5,0 5,0 7,9 4,3	5,1------------ 5,4------------ 3,9------- 3,9 3,0 --------3,0 2,4------- 2,4 6,5------- 5,5 6,0----------- 5,4 -------4,5 4,9----------- 5,8------- 4,6 5,0----------- 5,0 -------5,0 7,2------- 6,8 5,8-------5,5 7,1----------- 7,0---------- 8,0---------- 7,6---------- 5,9--------- 4,5--------- 5,5------4,7 3,9--------- 10,7-------9,5 3,5-----3,5 6,2--------- 4,9----- ----- 5,1----- -5,1 6,3----- ---- 3,8----- 4,6
Intrarégional Long-Haul	11'531 8'624	16'994--29'797--49'879 10'387---17'199---27'436	6,0 4,7	5,8------5,3 5,2------4,8

Source : World Tourism Organization (WTO)

Concept of Tourism within Africa

While considering flow of international tourists into Africa, it is necessary to examine tourism development within the region. This brings up the issue of Intraregional Tourism.

Unlike in Europe where tourist flow among the Europeans is very intensive, mass tourism movement among Africans within African States is totally none-existent and several reasons account for this :

• Lack of tourism understanding
• Financial delinquency of Africans
• Frontier and language barriers
• Lack of intra-regional tourism policy by the organization of African Unity of Africa
• Transportation problems

An average African is not naturally inclined to tourism. To him tourism is alien. This accounts to deficiency in domestic tourism development in the region. An average African sees his leisure time as a time to make up for loses or complete a family assignment such as concentrating on his farm, progressing on the development of his building or engaging on other issues of economic benefits which may on the longrun improve the well-being of his family. When Africans travel, rarely are such journeys tourism motivated except in special cases when they undertake pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Mecca. In this case, to an African he is on holy venture and not religious tourism.

Some other reasons why Africans do travel are either to visit relatives, friends or for business. However recreational activities especially during festive periods and weekend tourism are gaining grounds in some parts of Africa where particularly the youths are getting involved in recreational activities such as going to theatres, beaches, theme parks, concerts e.t.c.

In total, limit of involvement of individuals in tourism in Africa is still very insignificant because of general financial delinquency and financial resources of individuals. The average income per capita in most African countries is about 75 US $ and this is not enough or sufficient to support such heavy problems akin to African family. The basic necessity of life must first have to be provided for before anything else. In comparison with other developed and some other developing countries, Africa economy in relation to the value of respective currencies to the US dollar is weak and this also has effect on purchase power. All these put together create added hindrance to the growth of intra-regional tourism.

Table 7 : WORLD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK NATIONAL CURRENCY UNITS PER CAPITA GROSS

World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W136NGDPRPC, Italy, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W343NGDPRPC, Jamaica, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W664NGDPRPC, Kenya, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W676NGDPRPC, Malawi, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W181NGDPRPC, Malta, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W273NGDPRPC, Mexico, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W686NGDPRPC, Marocco, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W692NGDPRPC, Niger, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W694NGDPRPC, Nigeria, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W199NGDPRPC, S. Africa, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W184NGDPRPC, Spain, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W2732NGDPRPC, Sudan, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W144NGDPRPC, Sweden, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W744NGDPRPC, Tunisia, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W746NGDPRPC, Uganda, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W112NGDPRPC, UK, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W754NGDPRPC, Zambia, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W698NGDPRPC, Zimbabwe, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W612NGDPRPC, Algeria, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W638NGDPRPC, Benin, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W522NGDPRPC, Cambodia, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W622NGDPRPC, Cameroon, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W636NGDPRPC, Congo, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W686NGDPRPC, Equatorial Guinea, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W643NGDPRPC, Eritrea, Per Capita Gross
World Economic Outlook, National Currency, Units, W652NGDPRPC, Ghana, Per Capita Gross

Source : -I.M.F.

Frontier and Language barriers have not also favoured the growth of tourism movements within Africa. Africa was colonized by different “masters” ranging from the English, Italians, French to Portuguese. Each of these had their tradition, culture and colonial laws. Each colonialist guided its territory and borders very jealously and the imprints of all these barriers in language, law and traditions were left behind, inherited and transferred to the independence of most countries in Africa. Until in some two decades back when Africans started coming together under the Organization of Africa Unity (OAU) and sub-regional formations as the Economic Commission of Organization of West Africa States (ECOWAS) which have now started easing frontier, currency and trade barriers, each country in Africa lived and survived independent of each other.

Tourism is a manifestation of movement from one place to another. Transportation provides the possibility for most of these movements. In other words, transport is an integral part of tourism and a conveyor of tourists to different tourists destinations. Logically, the more accessible a tourist destination is, the more it is able to attract tourists. It is not only the distance that is important in tourism but the comfort and expenses involved in the process of traveling to destinations. A major impediment to intra-regional tourism growth in Africa is transportation. Africa is completely dearth in inter-state connections either by road, rail or air, very few countries only at sub-regional levels are linked to each other by roads which can not even be compared to the motorways or autobalms of Europe. Except such tourists who are interested in expeditions or adventures.

There is presently no interstate rail connection in Africa and as a matter of fact, the rail systems left behind by colonialist in some individual states were just make-shift facilities which were necessitated for the evacuation of commodities from major points to the coast for shipment abroad. Because they were not developed for commuter purposes, there were restrictions in their development and technology. For example, hitherto, Nigeria still operated 2'6'' rail gauge which are incompatible with the modern rail system.

Rail system in international and transnational travels is basic to the promotion of tourism, it serves as an alternative for the class of tourists who cannot afford travelling by air. Although it could be a slower form of transportation, it is much more affordable and makes the remote tourist destinations more accessible than the air transportation.

Air Transportation

Except within the sub-region of West Africa, it is indeed much easier and less expensive to travel between some points in Africa and Europe than travelling within Africa. Africa has the most undeveloped airlink network all over the world, and this makes organized intra-region travels impossible. For example, a journey by air from Lagos in Nigeria to Rabat in Morocco will have to be routed via Europe as there is no direct link. Besides, the airlines have not been able to develop a hob out of Africa which can stimulate an air network and subsequently, a direct link with Europe. Meanwhile, each airline flies from point ‘A’ in Europe to point ‘B’ in Africa.

Fare-wise, the North-South and vice-versa airfare in Africa is unbearably expensive and cannot be compared with fares within other regions of the world. It is almost twice expensive to travel by air within Africa than travelling by air between Africa and Europe.

Table 8 : AirFare IATA

Lagos – Rabat	$3189	=N=363,546	BA.
Lagos – London	$1157	=N=131,898	BA.
Lagos – Johannesburg	$3260	=N=371,640	BA.	$628 (S.Africa. Airways)
Lagos – Cairo	$2680	=N=305,520	BA.	$710 (Egypt Air)
Lagos – Nairobi	$2957	=N=337,098	BA.	$721(Kenya Airways)

In order to facilitate Interregional and Intraregional tourism in Africa, air transportation must compliment the continent’s tourism plans and promotion. To this end there is need for the following :

• Promotion of cooperation by African airlines first among themselves and secondly with governments in order to enhance continental and intercontinental operations.
• Attach the greatest importance to the reduction of intercontinental airfares to Africa in order to promote tourism from foreign destinations.
• Strengthen horizontal connections in Africa by opening new air routes and increasing present frequencies in order to facilitate marketing of African tourism products on air circuits within the continent.
• Improve airport installations and facilities to meet the requirements of all types of aircrafts, landing and take off safety.

Development of Intra-regional tourism depends largely not on Individual States but cooperation and collaboration among all the states under the umbrella of the Organization of African Unity which has failed hitherto to provide enabling machinery for interstate cooperation in tourism. Most of these problems as earlier enumerated can be solved at the level of OAU. Such include the following :

• Exchange of information on availability of tourist facilities among the states and encouragement of exchange programmes at all levels.
• Avoid interstate frontier hostility and harsh immigration procedures.
• Embrace a spirit of one family and express this through constant interstate engagements such as fairs, sports, and conferences.
• Promote inter-state cooperation among the security agencies.
• Introduction of promotional air transport fares and establishment of excursion packages between regional destinations.
• Organization of African Unity and Sub-regional Organizations to introduce policy on intra-regional tourism development targeting specifically the youths and dynamic sector of the economy.
• Develop and foster cooperation among African countries through the formulation of joint promotion campaigns in particular for those countries whose tourist resources are more limited or which are remote from the main tourist-generating countries.
• Encourage meetings between tourism officials of neighbouring countries in order to examine the possibilities of joint action and the removal of constraints as a means of promoting tourism integration at subregional level.
• Encourage and implement programmes geared to familiarize nationals of each country with the cultural and historical heritage which they share with neighbouring countries.

PROGRESS IN SIGHT :

By the World Tourism Organization research carried out under its program “Africa-Tourism 2001 Vision” Africa is making gradual but consistent progress in both international and intra-regional tourism in recent years. The following reasons account for the positive changes :

• Changes in the policies of governments which are now giving tourism a good attention in each country’s development plan.
• Diversification in tourism product from Coastal and Safari tourism to specialized tourism such as Culture, Sports, Eco-tourism, Conference and Business Tourism.
• Introduction of electronic marketing of destinations which makes it easier to find information on some African destinations.
• Improvement on security and frontier processes in many countries. Evolving a good image making strategy through constant education and awareness programs on tourism values. Introduction of special security measures by some countries (e.g. Kenya Tourist Police Force).
• Acceleration of trained personnels in tourism facilitation.
• Less political frictions and stability such as the destruction of apartheid in South Africa, resolved political problem in Namibia, state of political understanding in Liberia, replacement of military rule by democratic dispensation in Nigeria, stability in Ghana e.t.c.
• Growth of better tourism facilities such as tourism accommodation and improvement on general tourism facilitation.
• Intensification of promotional activities by different National Tourism Organization.

According to the World Tourism Organization Survey, Africa has consistently out performed the world as a whole in terms of growth rate in international tourist arrivals by degree of percentage increase from year to year. For example, Africa increased its share from 1.5 per cent in 1970 to 3.9 per cent in 1998 with total arrivals reaching 24.9 million in 1998 which was more than three times the level of 1980. This is expected to rise steeply to about 77.3 million in the year 2020 which will indicate an annual growth rate of 5.5 per cent over the period 1995-2020. The global growth forecast within same period has been put at 4.1 per cent by W.T.O which is an indication that Africa tourism growth would have risen above general global tourism growth. Table 9 indicates efforts being made by selected countries to enhance their tourism industry while tables 10 & 11 is the WTO future forecast for tourist arrivals in Africa.

Table 9 : Selected Destination Strategies in Africa

Countries	Tourism Promotion Strategy Analysis
Angola	An independent Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has been put in place this will provide a direct focus on the hospitality industry. Angola is boosting her tourism.
Botswana	Expansion of existing tourism facilities i.e. development of new sites and introduction of other aspects of tourism other than flora and fauna i.e. water sports and hunting expedition.
Central African Republic	Tourism development Master Plan in place and long term strategies implanted.
Djibouti	Strategic plan for tourism has been developed to take into account protection and improvement on the environment as a pre-requisite for sustainable tourism development. There is a general re-organization of the sector through the provision of appropriate legislation and regulations as well as integral marketing policy, incentives to enhance favourable investment climate, participation of local populations and private sector in tourism development.
Ghana	Ghana put in place integrated tourism development program in 1996 which set the course for a broad-base tourism product aimed at enhancing domestic and intra-regional tourism as well as long haul tourism based on special interests such as nature, historic and cultural resources of the country. Ghana has capitalized British Airways tourism for tomorrow award of 1999 and more than anything else, has laid emphasis on quality and sustainability of tourism development.
Kenya Uganda Seychelles	These three countries have come under a dynamic tourism corridor to be collectively promoted as a regional destination. While capitalizing on her afari tourism base, Kenya is diversifying to health spas, conference tourism as well as cruises on Lake Victoria, favourable climate has been created for private investors who can repatriate their profits at will. Uganda is strengthening its potential in Avitourism (Bird Watching) as well as such areas as mountaineering, cultural and aquatic tourism. Seychelles aims at becoming a five-star destination with five-star product. Seychelles has become a holiday-resting destination after touching on Kenya and Uganda.
South Africa	Lowering of airfares, and development of new packages and implementation of a wide range of tourism strategies which include improvement of safety and security for tourists, investment through joint public-private sectors, training programs.
Nigeria	National orientation for domestic tourism development, deliberate economic for diversification of the economy in favour of tourism, robust tourism budget in place, establishment of National Tourism Machinery.

Table 10 : International Tourist Arrivals
WTO FORCAST TABLE

Table 11

Future of Africa in the Tourism Industry

There is presently a general demand for new destinations and new products in the World Tourism Market. The current destinations in Europe and Americas are getting saturated, over visited and over developed. Some are already loosing grip of their fun and curiosity to tourists except new comers.

Taking all these into consideration, Africa appears to be the very likely destination of the future should there be a good focus of individual and collective governments of Africa on good planning, good development and effective marketing of the African tourism destinations.

Tourism 2020 vision forecasts by the World Tourism Organization indicate international arrivals are expected to reach over 1.56 billion by the year 2020 (Table 12---) World Tourism Organization prognose puts Africa in the fourth position in order of receiving regions to Europe (717 million tourists) East Asia/Pacific (397 million and Americas (282 million). Middle East and South Asia shall come after Africa.

The Africa region is expected to receive 77.3 million tourists by year 2020 according to W.T.O. The region received 20.2 million tourists in 1995 an indication of an annual growth of 5.5 per cent over the period of 1995-2020 which is above the World average of 4.0 per cent. Respecting the above World Tourism Organization forecast, Africa share of international arrivals will have increased from 3.6 per cent in 1995 to 5.0 per cent in year 2020.

Table 13 : WTO FORCAST TABLE

 

Notes :

a) Intraregional includes arrivals where country of origin is not specified.
b) Long-Haul is defined as everything except Intraregional travel.

On Africa regional basis, World Tourism Organization forecasts there will be shift in the future International Tourist Market Share to the present as a result of emergence of new destinations. North Africa subregion which is presently most visited attracting 7.3 million visitors in 1995 and 8.7 million in 1998 will be the third lowest in Africa over the period 1995-2020,

while arrivals in the Southern Africa subregion are expected to grow the fastest attracting about a half of all arrivals in Africa by the year 2020.

East Africa subregion is expected to retain its third position with 17 million forecast in 2020 while performance in both Central Africa and West Africa sub-regions within the same period will be low yielding to only 600,000 and 4.6 million respectively. See table 14.

Table 14

Africa will grow to full maturity with the first half of the millennium because of the envisage changes of governments and governance. Very dynamic governments will emerge which will be able to work together in various fields of economic endeavour – tourism inclusive. The income – per capita of many nations in Africa will increase substantially and all these shall give impetus to a boost in Intraregional tourism.

Conclusion

Africa has been forecasted to be the major tourism destination of the millennium. This is a position that is only attainable if Africa tourism industry grows in the right perspective and in a position to face the stiff competition in the World Tourism Market. Tourism growth depends to a great extent on macroeconomic dimensions (Peter Keller AIEST XXIII) and the reality is that such dimensions as creative forces of the market, access to resources, human capital and R & D, range and quality of products, size and not work of firms and incentive system of the state (Peter Keller AIEST XXIII) must first have to be achieved at a reasonable level. Achievement of such macroeconomic dimensions depends on political stability, security of investment, life and property, and more than anything else, the tourism policy of individual governments.

 

References

1. African Regional Conference on Tourism and Economic Development – Banjul Oct. 1978.

• statement by Robert Lonatin : Secretary General W.T.O
• statement by Professor A. Adedeji : Executive Secretary E.C.A.
• conclusion on Intra-regional Tourism

2. African and Oriental holiday : published by Travel International

3. Africa on a Shoestring : Hugh Finlay & Co

4. Tourism growth and global competition : 51st AIEST Congress 2001

• statement by Professor Peter Keller

5. A short History of the World : H.G. Wells

6. Tourism Highlights 2000 : WTO publication

7. Africa – Tourism 2020 Vision : WTO

8. Whole World Handbook : published by International Educational Exchange- Marjerie Adoff Coffen

9. The making of Contemporary Africa : Bill Frend

10. In Quest of Livingstone : - C. Wilson & Tishing Irwin

11. Africa by Road : Bob Swain & Paula Suyder.

12. The Slave Route –W.T.O/UNESCO Project : - Franklin .J. Adejuwon

13. Economic Growth & Sustainable Development of Tourism : - F.J. Adejuwon

14. Tourism Development in Nigeria in the third millennium : - F.J. Adejuwon

15. The Travails of Tourism Development in Africa, Constraints & Potentials : - F.J. Adejuwon