Strengthening tourism through sustainability
Tourism is a major contributor to many economies, contributing significantly to income generation, foreign exchange earnings, tax revenue, and employment. It supports millions of jobs, directly and indirectly, and serves as a key driver of economic growth in many countries. However, despite its vast potential, the tourism industry faces numerous challenges threatening its sustainability. Recently, tourism has become vulnerable to global disruptions such as pandemics, natural disasters, political instability, and environmental degradation. Strengthening tourism means balancing economic growth with environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and community well-being.
Africa’s tourism industry is deeply intertwined with its natural resources, from vast savannahs and iconic wildlife to pristine beaches and dense forests. These natural wonders make the continent a major attraction for travellers worldwide. However, unregulated tourism, poaching, deforestation, and climate change threaten the longevity of these attractions. As we celebrate Global Tourism Day, it is essential to take stock of current tourism offerings and identify opportunities for improvement.
Recent years have demonstrated how vulnerable tourism is to global crises. The COVID-19 pandemic halted international travel, devastating tourism-dependent economies, particularly in regions that rely heavily on visitors for jobs and business survival. Similarly, climate-change disasters such as floods and extreme weather continue to impact tourism hotspots worldwide. Political instability and conflicts further contribute to the unpredictability of the industry.
There are several recommended ways to build a resilient tourism sector. The World Travel and Tourism Council underscores the necessity for the travel and tourism sector to be actively involved in crisis preparedness, management, and recovery. They highlight the need for capacity building and developing comprehensive crisis management plants to ensure the industry’s resilience. The same course of action is recommended by the World Bank, which advocates for integrating disaster and climate change risk considerations into tourism policy and investment planning to strengthen the sector’s ability to withstand and recover from various disruptions. Several themes emerge from recommendations from these organisations.
One key strategy to build a resilient tourism sector is to diversify the forms of tourism. By promoting eco-tourism, heritage tourism, adventure tourism, and urban tourism, nations can reduce their dependence on a single source of visitors. Another crucial step is to establish crisis preparedness and recovery strategies. This includes setting up emergency funds and recovery programmes to help tourism-dependent communities bounce back after unexpected disruptions. These organisations also advocate for promoting domestic and regional tourism to create a buffer against declines in international tourism.
Effecting these strategies will require, in part, the active involvement of all stakeholders. This includes enforcing eco-certifications, conservation policies, and incentives for businesses to adopt sustainable practices and ensure their operations remain environmentally responsible. Equally crucial is to have tourism revenue benefit local populations through fair wages, community-run organisations, and cultural tourism initiatives.
If recent events in global history are anything to go by, this Global Tourism Resilient Day should be a reminder that the industry clearly must adapt to global challenges, prioritise sustainability, and invest in community-driven tourism. Governments, businesses, communities and travellers alike must embrace responsible tourism to ensure that these treasured destinations continue to thrive and remain accessible.
