What is West Africa’s Tourism Recovery Plan?
Travel and tourism contribute over $170 billion to Africa’s economy. Tourism will remain a revenue generating sector for many economies but its comeback from the effects of COVID-19 may be slow. At the moment, many African countries are still paying off debts and upgrading their healthcare systems. But what does this mean for the tourism sector in the region?
We need to identify the key focus areas for revenue growth in the next 3 years and as tourism professionals, it is our job to ensure we provide enough of a rationale for governments to take our industry seriously. Our work is cut out for us. Domestic Tourism may be the silver bullet for the industry and for local economy revenue generation. For West Africa, this is good news. The benefits of this go beyond economic value alone. It will drive infrastructural development, socio-cultural development and contribute to an appreciation for the environment.
Here are a few components I consider important for any recovery plan developed for the tourism sector in any West African state:
- Improving the attractiveness of intra-country travel
- Regional tourism (intra West Africa travel) – identifying leisure economy opportunities and facilitating cross-border travel
- Boosting investor confidence in the hospitality and tourism industry in West Africa
- Business support to stimulate growth in the sector
- Simple and clear policies
- Capacity development for tomorrow’s tourism professionals
- Critical national image and reputation management
Have I missed anything? If so, let me know. Let’s have this conversation.
Source of data: https://www.africanews.com/2020/07/21/africas-tourism-industry-ready-for-recovery-euronews-debates