The 15 leaders of African?Tourism

I’m excited to shift our focus to a vibrant and rapidly growing sector—travel and tourism in Africa. As VisionAfrique continues its evolution towards delivering more actionable business insights, it’s essential to recognize how tourism plays a key role in the economic fabric of the continent. Tourism showcases Africa’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage and acts as a significant driver for investment, infrastructure development, and job creation.

In this piece, we’ll explore recent data on Africa’s top-performing tourism destinations, noting the triumphs and challenges faced by various countries. Whether you're a seasoned investor, a business leader, or someone curious about the untapped potential of African tourism, this article will provide valuable insights into how this industry is shaping Africa’s future. Let’s dive into the numbers and see where Africa stands on the global stage.

Key Insights

• South Africa Leads the Way: South Africa ranks first with a score of 3.99, marking an increase of +0.70% compared to 2019. This reflects an improvement in its tourism performance, consolidating its position as the continent’s leader.
• East African Countries Stand Out: Despite notable declines, East African countries like Kenya?and Mauritius?remain key players. Kenya?ranks fifth with a score of 3.78, though it has seen a notable decline of -7.2%?compared to 2019. Mauritius, in second place with a score of 3.96, reflects a modest increase of +0.3%.
• Significant Variations: Countries such as Morocco (-8.2%) and Ghana (-17.2%) show notable decreases in the index, which could be attributed to political or economic challenges affecting tourism.
• Progress in Ratings: Most of the top 15 African countries score between 3.18?and 3.99, indicating a level of consistency in tourism development across the continent. While this suggests progress, it also highlights the need for further improvement in areas such as infrastructure and policy reform to raise these countries' global competitiveness.

Growth of Tourism in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges

Africa, a continent experiencing rapid economic growth, is witnessing its tourism sector emerge as a major driver for development and progress. According to the Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI), leading African countries like South Africa, Mauritius, and Egypt demonstrate resilience despite recent challenges. South Africa tops the African ranking with a score of 3.99, reflecting its strengths in tourism infrastructure and natural attractions. This score represents a slight improvement (+0.7%), indicating continuous enhancement in its tourism policies and capabilities. On a global scale, South Africa ranks 55th, making it the most competitive destination on the continent in 2021, a position that highlights the diversity of its tourism offerings.

Countries in East Africa, such as Kenya (3.68) and Rwanda (3.45), have recorded significant declines of -7.1% and -12.9%, respectively. Kenya, despite holding the fifth position in the African ranking, shows a marked drop, which could indicate challenges in capitalizing on its natural resources and reputation as a premier destination. Meanwhile, Rwanda, which has seen the steepest decline compared to Kenya, may be facing more complex issues, such as political adjustments or economic shocks.

Beyond the African leaders, other countries on the continent, although not in the top 15, show promising tourism potential. For instance, Benin, C?te d'Ivoire, and Angola, which are also ranked, are positioning themselves as emerging destinations thanks to their exceptional landscapes and unique biodiversity.

The overall results also highlight the need to enhance the competitiveness of lower-ranked African countries, such as Cameroon (17th in Africa), Sierra Leone (18th), and Mali (19th). Targeted efforts in strengthening infrastructure, developing favorable tourism policies, and promoting local attractions could help them climb the rankings and leverage Africa’s tourism potential.

Global Ranking of Top African Countries

On a global scale, South Africa (55th) is followed by Mauritius (57th) and Egypt(77th), standing out among African nations for their competitiveness. These positions indicate that despite common challenges faced across the continent, Africa is making progress in the global tourism industry, revealing considerable untapped potential. These results underscore the need for robust tourism policies to support sustainable sector growth, as tourism remains a crucial industry that could not only increase the GDP of African nations but also create jobs, improve infrastructure, and boost local?economies.

The data

The information in this infographic is?sourced?from the World Economic Forum, specifically from the Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI). This index ranks countries based on various factors of tourism competitiveness, evaluating them according to 17 pillars grouped into five main categories: enabling environment (infrastructure, business environment, etc.), travel and tourism policies and conditions, attractiveness of natural and cultural resources, tourism infrastructure, and sector resilience and sustainability. The data has been compiled from sources such as national statistics, reports from international organizations (UNWTO, World Bank), and opinion surveys from experts and professionals in the tourism sector. The TTDI thus provides an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of each country in terms of tourism development, helping to identify levers to enhance their attractiveness.

While the Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) provides valuable insights into the sector, it presents certain limitations. Firstly, variations in rankings may reflect factors not directly related to tourism, such as economic fluctuations or political changes. Moreover, the pandemic has caused disruptions in the sector, making it difficult to assess tourism performance accurately over recent years. Nevertheless, this index remains an essential tool for identifying growth opportunities and priority areas where policies can enhance the tourism competitiveness of African?countries.

About the author

Dara Gbolahan is an Information Designer who believes in visualized data's power to create meaningful impact. Through VisionAfrique, she regularly publishes data visualizations on Africa, aiming to inform and inspire enthusiasts of the continent.