Emphasis on a transparent and enabling policy environment under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement is set to accelerate investments in the tourism, creative and cultural sectors, driving infrastructure and sectoral development.
With 47 of the 54 African Union (AU) member states ratifying the agreement, the baton has been handed to the private sector to seize opportunities provided by trade liberalisation.
The AfCFTA Secretariat has intensified its focus on supporting the tourism and cultural industries, which are among the five priority services sectors included in the protocols of the agreement. This strengthened collaboration was on full display at the 7th annual African Tourism Leadership Forum (ATLF) in Gaborone last week. The first day of the event was dedicated to the AfCFTA Forum on Tourism, Creatives and Cultural Industries.
A world of opportunity for businesses
Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, said the adoption of 22 Schedules of Specific Commitments by the AU Assembly opened up a host of opportunities for African tourism businesses and service providers.
“These opportunities span a wide range of niches such as hotels and restaurants (including catering), travel agencies, tour operators, tourist guides and a number of other tourism services. The potential for growth and development in these areas is vast, offering new avenues for investment and expansion,” said Mene.
The Secretariat has endorsed the initiative – led by ATLF organiser Africa Tourism Partners (ATP) – to establish the Africa Tourism Private Sector Alliance, a body intended to help businesses tap into the opportunities.
“The private sector is urged to capitalise on these opportunities, leveraging the framework provided by the AfCFTA to drive growth, innovation and collaboration across the continent. The AfCFTA Secretariat stands ready to support this journey,” said Mene.
Botswana’s Vice-President Slumber Tsogwane said governments are committed to private sector-led growth of the industry.
“I am confident that, from this conference, we will continue to witness a demand-led, private sector-driven approach to tourism growth and employment.”
Wilhemina Makwinja, Botswana’s Acting Minister of Environment and Tourism, said the AfCFTA presents an opportunity to look beyond tourism statistics to explore the tangible impacts of tourism on people and economies.
“Unlocking the potential of the tourism ecosystem and its extensive value chains, alongside facilitating investments in tourism, can deliver more inclusive and sustainable growth in new areas, particularly in traditionally marginalised communities.”
The forum at ATLF featured four high-level panel discussions focused on accelerating implementation of the AfCFTA through the tourism, creatives and cultural industries, creation of a pan-African Tourism Fund for infrastructure development and actualising AfCFTA protocols to unlock opportunities for small and established enterprises.
Building on regional blocs
The forum explored how improved integration of tourism and trade between countries in regional blocs, led by the likes of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), could be built upon to create a Single African Tourism Market.
Albertus Aochamub, Namibian Ambassador to France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Monaco, cited the proposed Kavango-Zambezi univisa (allowing for free travel for tourists between Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe) and the use of ID documents for citizens travelling between Namibia and Botswana as initiatives easing freedom of movement.
“There is a case for evolving progressively as regional blocs until we get to this vision of a unified Africa. There are already examples we should be emulating and encouraging,” said Aochamub.
The EAC already allows for free movement of citizens between the bloc’s seven member states. The SADC has a similar agreement in place, while discussions are also underway for the creation of a SADC univisa allowing tourists to travel freely between member states.
ATP CEO Kwakye Donkor reiterated the need to accelerate intra-African travel, tourism and hospitality.
“This is imperative to improving tourism's contribution to national GDPs while addressing youth unemployment challenges and improving tourism investment levels, which remain far below the scale and pace of change needed. This presents a clear opportunity for businesses.”
