By IPS Correspondents
BERLIN, Mar 14 2000 (IPS)

African tourism has spiralled upwards in the last years, with the continent achieving growth rates that surpass the world average.

However, this carries very little weight in global tourism.

According to Ousmane Ndiaye, regional representative for Africa at the World Tourism Organisation, based in Madrid, about 25 million tourists the continent receives, represent a mere four percent share in tourist arrivals world-wide.

Africa’s earnings from tourism, which amount to some 10 billion US Dollars, account for only two percent of the world total, Ndiaye told a gathering of African government ministers, diplomats and German experts Tuesday at the Travel and Tourism World Fair (ITB) in Berlin.

The figures relate to 1998, the last year for which the World Tourism Organisation has compiled reliable statistics. These show that Europe shared 49 percent and the United States 27 percent of global earnings from tourism.

Against this backdrop, there was no room for complacency, said Ndiaye. In fact the globalisation of the world economy presented a great challenge to African governments and tour operators. A part of the challenge was to make socio-cultural and environmental issues an integral element of tourism growth strategies.

Ndiaye’s view was shared by Zimbabwe’s minister of mines, environment and tourism, Simon Khaya Moyo. It was important for governments in Africa to come up with policies that will ensure a sustainable growth of the tourism industry so as to boost its share of the globalised economy.

“The promotion of the smart partnership between the public and private sectors in tourism development and the implementation of environmental policies that require the sustainable utilisation of tourism resources are good examples of how Africa was handling its tourism industry in the face of the globalised economy,” maintained Moyo.

He pointed to the establishment of regional tourism blocks like the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) as a positive sign of African cooperation to face the challenges of globalisation.

The grouping is responsible for marketing and promotion of 14 Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries as tourist destinations and the devlopment of mega parks in the form of trans- frontier conservation areas.

Referring to the current debate at the ITB Berlin on the need to develop tourism into an instrument of environmental protection, Kenya’s minister for tourism, trade and industry, Nicholas Kipyator Biwott said his country had been involved in eco-tourism long before the term came into being.

“We intend to continue that way and ensure, through sustainable tourism development, the long-term well being of the flora and fauna for the benefit of the local communities, the players in the tourism industry and our visitors,” Biwott assured.

Kenya is also developing agro and cultural tourism as distinct products which could be pursued individually or in combination with the traditional beach or Safari products. The fact that Kenyan tea, coffee, pyrethrum and pineapple plantations have special appeal to visitors, would make the new brand of tourism particularly attractive.

Kenya is also hoping to evoke interest in the Kakamega Tropical Forest which is habitat to unique birds, butterflies and indigenous trees.

It is also famous for nature-based attractions, such as granite rock outcrops, the “weeping stones” of Vihiga and a range of cultural activities which include bull-fighting and food festivals to mark different seasons.

While the new tourism trends and projects were necessary, it was important to keep in mind that Africa’s tourism industry was still not a major growth sector, said Karl Wolfgang Menck, a German development economist.

There was no change in the unevenness of the distribution of tourism growth within the continent. Large numbers of visitors were recorded in the countries north of the Sahara – because of their proximity to Europe.

But, as in the past, Central and West Africa tend to be avoided by tourists, while in southern part of the continent, Kenya, Namibia and South Africa have seen their tourism grow.

Menck pleaded with the African countries to take a set of measures related to tourism growth and development policy. These include: opening up of markets, lifting of limitations on state- run enterprises, reduction of government regulations and incentives to ensure the maintenance of social and environment standards.

Besides, foreign companies should be granted the same treatment as their domestic counterparts. Appropriate conditions should be created for the development of private sector tourism. These, according to Menck, calls for tourism related education, construction of roads, provision of electrical power, water and waste disposal services.

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