Pan-African tourism champions are advocating for greater African ownership of the tourism industry to ensure more of the wealth generated by the continent's attractions remains within Africa. This call was made during a tourism roadshow organised in Arusha to promote intra-African tourism and strengthen business partnerships. The champions argue that the traditional focus on attracting international visitors should be complemented by strengthening local participation in hotels, tour operations, and travel services.
African Tourism Partners chief executive officer Kwakye Donkor stated that a significant share of tourism revenue generated in Africa currently benefits companies and institutions headquartered outside the continent. He noted that tourism is one of the sectors where much of the money spent by visitors does not remain fully in the countries they visit. This is particularly evident in foreign-owned hotels, tour operators, and other tourism businesses.
The tourism roadshow, organised by African Tourism Partners and the Africa Tourism Private Sector Alliance, aims to promote intra-African tourism, strengthen business partnerships, and increase the share of tourism revenue retained within the continent. The initiative seeks to enhance the competitiveness of Africa's tourism sector through policy alignment, improved transport connectivity, and stronger cooperation among tourism businesses.
ATPSA director Devota Mdachi said the programme would promote business-to-business linkages and joint tourism packages to encourage more Africans to travel within the continent. She noted that Africa has for years concentrated on attracting tourists from outside the continent while underutilising the potential of its growing domestic and regional tourism market.
Mdachi emphasised that when Africans travel within Africa, they create jobs, strengthen businesses, promote culture, connect communities, and ensure a greater share of economic value remains within the continent. She also noted that stronger intra-African tourism could expand trade, investment, and private-sector partnerships while making tourism markets more resilient to external shocks.
Arusha Regional Administrative Secretary Dr Toba Nguvila said the roadshow provided Tanzania with an opportunity to showcase its tourism attractions, access new markets, build business networks, and attract investment. He urged tourism stakeholders and investors to support efforts to strengthen regional tourism partnerships and ensure that more of the sector's economic benefits are retained within Africa.
The tourism champions and stakeholders believe that increasing African ownership and participation across the tourism value chain would enable more revenue to circulate through local businesses, create employment, and support investment within the continent. This, they argue, would ultimately contribute to the economic development of African countries.
Key points
- African tourism champions call for greater African ownership of the tourism industry
- Intra-African tourism can expand trade, investment, and private-sector partnerships
- Increasing African ownership would enable more revenue to circulate through local businesses
