Overtourism: A Blessing in Disguise For Africa's Tourism Industry?

Overtourism refers to when a destination becomes overwhelmed by the number of tourists, leading to negative impacts on the environment, local culture, infrastructure, and residents' quality of life. It occurs when the volume of visitors exceeds the capacity of the destination to manage them sustainably. Key issues associated with overtourism include:

1. Environmental Degradation: Natural habitats and wildlife can be disturbed or destroyed due to the high volume of tourists. Popular natural attractions may suffer from pollution, erosion, and depletion of natural resources.

2. Infrastructure Strain: Local infrastructure, such as roads, public transportation, and sanitation systems, can become overburdened, leading to deterioration and insufficient services for both tourists and residents.

3. Economic Imbalance: While tourism can bring economic benefits, overtourism can lead to increased living costs and income inequality. Local businesses might cater more to tourists, neglecting the needs of residents.

4. Resident Displacement and Discontent: High tourist numbers can drive up property prices and rents, displacing local residents. The daily lives of residents can be disrupted, leading to dissatisfaction and resentment towards tourists.

5. Visitor Experience Deterioration: Crowded attractions and long wait times can diminish the quality of the visitor experience, making destinations less appealing in the long run.

How Overtourism Is Impacting Popular Destinations Across The World

As people all over the world can finally enjoy unrestricted travel after the pandemic, popular holiday destinations (especially in Europe) are experiencing overtourism. Residents and governing bodies are doing their best to reduce overtourism and its negative effects:

• Amsterdam is intensifying its efforts to combat over-tourism by imposing strict regulations on the development of new hotels and limiting the number of overnight stays in the city.

• Tenerife is implementing a new tax aimed at curbing overtourism, which will be effective from New Year's Day 2025. The exact amount is yet to be revealed.

• Venice also recently implemented a trial fee of €5 (approximately $5.40) for day-trippers on specific peak days to manage overtourism and improve the liveability of residents.

Africa’s Time to Shine?

Although Africa was enjoying a steady increase in tourist arrivals (overnight stays) before the pandemic, one only has to compare Africa’s cumulative arrivals to a few of the leading tourist destinations worldwide to see that Africa’s tourism industry has much catching up to do. In our New Horizons report, we found that the top 31 African Tourist Destinations welcomed a total of 71,032,000 tourist arrivals in 2019. However, Spain (83,509,000), France (90,914,000) and America (79,442,000) each welcomed more tourists in 2019.

Nonetheless, there’s a lot to be optimistic about concerning the future of African Tourism. Local and international stakeholders are investing more into the industry across the continent in order to cultivate industry growth:

• The UN, in collaboration with Botswana's Department of Tourism, has initiated a scoping mission targeting Tourism Development Area 1, encompassing Gaborone and its environs. This region, renowned for its diverse landscapes, wildlife, and cultural richness, presents substantial untapped potential for tourism expansion.

• The tourism sector in South Africa is experiencing robust growth, as indicated by the recent international arrival data for January to March 2024. The total international tourist arrivals reached 2.4 million during this period, marking a notable 15.4% increase compared to the same timeframe in 2023.

• Kenya's tourism sector experienced a significant 31% revenue increase, reaching Ksh352.5 billion, driven primarily by an influx of African visitors from Uganda and Tanzania, while the United States remains the primary overseas market. Notable growth was also seen from emerging markets like China, Italy, South Korea, and Australia, highlighting the sector's diversification and resilience.

• The trend of visa-free travel is gaining momentum in Africa, with Malawi and Kenya being among the countries that have recently eliminated travel restrictions. The elimination of visa requirements within Africa is expected to simplify travel, boost job opportunities, and stimulate economic growth. Examples such as South Africa's removal of visa requirements for Kenyan travellers resulted in a significant surge in tourism, showcasing the potential benefits of visa-free travel in fostering economic development and cultural exchange.

All these developments suggest that now is a great time to make serious bets on tourism across the continent. Stakeholders should focus on improving infrastructure, creating marketing campaigns targeting major and fast growing overseas markets, and creating unique experiences.

If you want to get a deeper understanding of the state of tourism in Africa, order our New Horizons Tourism Industry Report today.

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