tourism industry - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

Kenya’s wildlife conservancies make old men rich, while making women and young people poorer

KENYA once had an exceptional abundance and diversity of wildlife. But as the country’s population boomed, wildlife lost space to people, buildings, roads and agriculture. Since 1948, Kenya’s population has surged by 780%, from 5.4 million people to 47.6 million people in 2019. This was accompanied by a 70% drop in wildlife numbers, between 1977 and 2013. This massive loss of wildlife and their habitats severely threatens Kenya’s lucrative tourism industry and the livelihoods of rural communities. Kenya earned about US$1.8 billion from tourism in 2022. It’s pivotal to the economy, contributing 10.4% to the national GDP and accounting for…

Dec

2023

By AHMED ELJECHTIMI

Morocco set to hit record tourism arrivals despite quake and Gaza war

NEWS

MOROCCO'S tourism industry looks set to have had a record year, boosting the wider economy, despite September's earthquake and what sector professionals see as some disruption to winter bookings due to the war in Gaza. Tourism accounts for 7% of gross domestic product and is a key source of foreign currency. The Tourism Ministry expects 2023 arrivals to reach 14 million by year-end, with 13.2 million visitors by the end of November. In 2022, 11 million tourists visited Morocco and in 2019, the last year before the COVID pandemic hit foreign travel, there were 13 million arrivals. "All signs point…

May

2023

By The African Mirror

Six lions killed in Kenya in blow to conservation efforts

NEWS

SIX lions have been killed in a national park in southern Kenya, in a blow to conservation efforts and the tourism industry which is a key pillar of the nation's economy. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said the lions were killed after attacking goats and a dog near villages close to the Amboseli National Park. "Unfortunately this is not an isolated incident as over the last week four other lions have been killed," KWS said in a statement on Saturday. KWS said its officials met with the local community to try to find a solution to recurring conflicts between the…

Jan

2023

By CONRAD ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Air travel rebound: International tourists trooping back to Africa

NEWS

THE return of Chinese tourists to Africa and a full resumption of operations on international routes by African airlines are the latest indicators of a rebounding tourism industry, badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago. China has picked three African countries- Egypt, Kenya and South Africa - among 20 across the globe for piloting outbound group tours, nearly a month after lifting travel restrictions. According to a ministerial notice published on January 20, Chinese travel companies will be allowed to provide travellers with airline and hotel packages to selected countries starting February 6. "From now on, travel agencies…

Oct

2022

By The African Mirror

Crime, COVID and climate change – South African tourism faces many threats, but it’s resilient

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

SOUTH Africa’s tourism industry has been rocked by the murder of a German visitor during an attempted robbery. The development resulted in negative media publicity, with a potentially adverse impact on the country’s image as a safe tourist destination. This comes at a time when the sector is recovering from the devastating effects of the COVID pandemic. The Conversation Africa’s political editor Thabo Leshilo asked Kaitano Dube, an expert in ecotourism, about tourism’s place in South Africa’s economy. Author KAITANO DUBE, Ecotourism Management Lecturer, Vaal University of Technology How important is tourism to South Africa’s economy? Tourism is critical to…