The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has released the Africa Economic Impact Report for 2024 and it projects an optimistic future for the travel sector’s contribution to the regional economy.
The Travel and Tourism sector was found to have contributed 6,8% to the total economy of Africa in 2023, with a total of US$191,8 billion (R3,5 trillion). This is an increase of 13,8% compared with 2019. However, the sector has not returned to its pre-pandemic contribution of 7,2% to the economy.
In terms of job creation, Travel and Tourism generated 24,07 million jobs in 2023, down from 25,76 million in 2019. However, the WTTC has forecast that the sector will overtake its 2019 record economic contribution and create 26,45 million jobs by the end of 2024.
Domestic travellers were found to be the biggest spenders on the continent, spending a total of US$94,8 billion (R1,7 trillion) in 2023, an increase of 4,4% from 2019. International visitors spent US$64,3 billion (R1,17 trillion) in 2023, a decrease of 2,6% from 2019. Domestic spending accounted for 59,6% of total spending.70,7% of this spending was for leisure travel.
The report can be accessed from the WTTC Research Hub.
