It is estimated that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) could lose between two million and 4.5 million tourism-related jobs, and between US$17.5 billion and US$40 billion in GDP due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yet the tourism industry had remained steadfast and resilient and it was clear that the world still wanted to visit and do business in the SADC region as well as the rest of Africa, said SA Deputy Minister of Tourism, Amos Fish Mahlalela, speaking at last week’s media launch of the inaugural Africa Travel and Tourism Summit (ATTS) to be held from September 19 to 21.

“Africa’s wealth is in its social diversity, their business savvy and its natural resources. It is for these reasons that we are in a prime position to take advantage of the five drivers of tourism in the future.”

These are the five drivers:

• Sustainability – building sustainable tourism ecosystems that have a positive impact on the environment.
• Conservation through environmental protection programmes and tourism that preserves endangered species and supports biodiversity.
• Developing an innovative and connective economy through increased direct inbound travel capacity, improved transport infrastructure that supports tourism growth, and better data connectivity so as to enhance Africa’s visibility online and in social media.
• Wellbeing that responds to travellers’ needs for post-pandemic ‘wide-open spaces’ and the need to go back to nature.
• And inclusivity showcased through our music, art, fashion, food and cultural practices.

“These can help in promoting African excellence, particularly its innovation, entertainment and corporate businesses,” said Mahlalela.

He called on the tourism industry to use the ATTS platform to further entrench the perception that African tourism would remain robust despite the odds.

“Let us use the summit’s platform to tell the world that we are a continent of conscious travellers, and that we are a conscious tourism sector, one that looks out for the health and safety of all travellers. Let it be our moment to showcase our efforts in curbing the pandemic and our carbon footprint,” he said.

“The summit will show that we can adapt and remain resilient. In all my encounters with tourism stakeholders and people within the industry, I have seen the tenacity in them. I urge that you continue to remain tenacious for the sake of African tourism.”