Tourism Industry in Africa

Kenya - 30 November 2012

The tourism sector has become an important sector towards contributing to overall development in many countries, both in terms of foreign exchange earnings, employment generation and so do the region’s domestic product (GDP). The World market for tourism services has been steadily growing over time. This paper aims to give an overview of Africans tourism and its contribution towards the overall development efforts, trends and patterns of the development of the sector, challenges and potential for the development of the sector alongside with prospect and the way forward in developing the tourist sector. In particular, this paper aims to analyse the development of the tourist sector by sub-regions, the flow of tourists and receipts by sub-regions, and traditional role of this sector towards African development. The paper equally aims to analyse the prospects and potential for the tourist sector within the African region. This includes the analysis of the diversity of the natural resources and landscapes that can be used to boast the development of the tourist industry within the region.
 
The paper equally intends to examine a number of factors that have mutilated many African economies in achieving their potential in this sector and equally to suggest necessary policy options available in improving the tourist industry within the African region. It ends by pointing out some of the key issues warranting attention for research in order to improve on the activities of the tourist industry alongside enhancing negotiations ender GATS. It concludes with references.

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