Ecotourism is the concept of responsible trips and travel to areas that might be protected and especially fragile. The intent is to create as little detrimental impact on the environment as possible. In some locations (such as Gorongosa National Park) where the wildlife has previously been decimated, rewilding has been done and much of the wildlife has been brought back (along with vegetation, thus allowing the environment to sequester more carbon then what was previously the case). This return of wildlife has created tourism opportunities (wildlife viewing, safari trips) allowing to bring in financial revenue. It also requires personnel such as park rangers, to be present, thus creating local employment opportunities.

Historical sites and monuments edit

Africa has many historic structures that have survived from ancient civilizations as well as more recent structures of interest to tourists. Ancient historical sites include the Pyramids and temples in both Egypt and Sudan; The Obelisk of Axum from Ethiopia; the ruins of ancient Zimbabwe's trading city, Great Zimbabwe; and the Palace of Emperor Fasilides in Ethiopia.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11]}

More recent structures that attract tourism includes the old slave castles in Ghana, Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle, which are also sited for heritage tourism. It also includes the highest monument in the world, the African Renaissance Monument in Senegal.^[12][13]

Marijuana tourism edit

Africa is home to a large marijuana industry^{[according to whom?]} and is famed for Marijuana tourism destinations that were part of the African "hippie trail" which saw many young people in the 1970s and 1960s traveling there for marijuana use, largely in North Africa (Morocco) but some made it to southern parts of Africa to countries like Malawi. In more contemporary times, many countries in Africa are still destinations known for their marijuana.^[14][15] South Africa is considered the gate way to Africa's marijuana tourism industry due to the popularity of "Durban Poison" Marijuana there is legal for private recreational use^[16][17] Malawi is another country that is known for its marijuana industry and tourists there are known to shop for marijuana or "Malawi Gold". The quality of Malawian cannabis has led it to out-perform marijuana sales in other markets that its been introduced in.^[18] Morocco is a country that is also world renowned for its marijuana and attracts tourists in search for its popular marijuana.^[19]

Medical tourism edit

Due to advance in technologies, techniques and practices and lower costs, Africa has experienced a surge in medical tourism and health tourism. Countries that are destinations for medical and health tourism packages include Algeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Tunisia. The top destinations for European visitors include Egypt, Tunisia, and South Africa. South Africa is the top destination for both international tourists and regional tourists from other African countries.^[20][21]

Tea tourism edit

African has a rich history of tea cultivation which is giving rise to several countries having a growing tea tourism destinations. Malawi was the first country to grow tea in Africa and has many tea estates that are decades old. Countries like Morocco, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa are large tea-producing countries which are frequented by tea tourists. South Africa's tea tourism market is focused on rooibos tea.^[22][23]

Tourism by arrivals edit

All of the data presented here is from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and from "Reviewing Africa in the Global Tourism Economy."^[24] The following table shows the number of arrivals in each country:

 

Country[a]	Arrivals (2015)
Egypt	17,443,000
Angola	210,000
Botswana	1,559,000
Burundi	148,000
Cameroon	210,000
Cape Verde	198,000
Democratic Republic of the Congo	61,000
Djibouti	30,000
Algeria	4,244,000
Eritrea	83,000
Gambia	111,000
Guinea	45,000
Lesotho	304,000
Mali	143,000
Mauritius	934,827 (2020)[25]
Morocco	9,409,000
São Tomé and Príncipe	11,000
Senegal	769,000
Seychelles	129,000
Sierra Leone	40,000
South Africa	7,518,000
Eswatini	839,000
Togo	81,000
Tunisia	6,378,000
Uganda	1,468,000 (2017)
Zimbabwe	1,559,000

Tourism by receipts edit

The following map and data depict the income from tourism in US dollar equivalent:

Country[b]	Receipts (2020) in US$
Botswana	$562,000,000
Burundi	$2,000,000
Cape Verde	$123,000,000
Egypt	$16,851,000,000
Eritrea	$66,000,000
Kenya	$879,000,000
Lesotho	$30,000,000
Malawi	$26,000,000
Morocco	$4,617,000,000
Mozambique	$130,000,000
Namibia	$348,000,000
Reunion	$384,000,000
Seychelles	$192,000,000
Sierra Leone	$83,000,000
South Africa	$7,327,000,000
Sudan	$89,000,000
Uganda	$1,400,000,000
Tunisia	$2,063,000,000
Tanzania	$4,468,000,000
Zimbabwe	$1,559,000

Notes edit

Visa policies to visit edit

See also edit

• Economy of Africa
• ECOWAS ECOTOUR
• Africa Travel Association
• African Continental Free Trade Area
• Rail transport in Africa
• Single African Air Transport Market
• CARICOM passport (Caribbean Community)
• UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
• Safari lodge
• UN Tourism

References edit

External links edit

  Media related to Tourism in Africa at Wikimedia Commons

• Tourism in Africa at Curlie