As a country of beauty, diversity, and opportunity, Africa attracts millions of international tourists each year.
Additionally, Africa’s historical sites and rich heritage of music, art, craft, dance, and architecture present enormous potential for diaspora and cultural tourism. While tourism contributes significantly to Africa’s GDP, growing concerns over mass tourism’s destructive nature have shifted the spotlight to community-led tourism.
The ills of mass tourism
One of the concerns of mass tourism is that foreign investors, such as tour operators, dominate, denting the profit margins of the locals.
Mass tourism supply chains often do not fully promote local culture and crafts, while the informal employment conditions can lead to the exploitation of vulnerable workers.
The environmental footprints of mass tourism also raise the concerns of habitat degradation in many tourist destinations.
The benefits of community-led tourism
In community-led tourism, the locals offer accommodation and experiences to tourists. By staying with these indigenous people, tourists gain an understanding of ancestral traditions and activities.
This form of tourism preserves the habitat, boosts economic activity, promotes cultural exchange, and enhances the local communities’ sense of pride in their heritage.
According to long-term projections, arrivals in Africa will continue to grow through 2035 to reach 134 million. Creating policies and guidelines while building the capacities for community-led tourism in Africa is the key to harness the immense potential that this sector offers.
How does community-led tourism advance the African economy?
The tourism industry is one of the largest and fastest-growing industries anywhere in the world. The United Nations World Tourism Organization revealed that the tourism industry has developed into a powerful economic sector. However, mass tourism won’t provide the same potential for holistic economic development.
Community-led tourism, on the other hand, encourages tourists to immerse themselves in the local cultural traditions and participate in authentic local experiences. From staying with the locals to enjoying authentic delicacies, tourists truly get to experience different African countries.
Traditional tourism doesn’t always bring in the same benefits as community-led tourism.
A core criticism lies in how unequal tourism can be, especially when it comes to providing jobs and support to the local communities. Community-led tourism can bring in economic investment from tourists as well as local and global investors. Such investments are especially likely from those tourists and investors who want to protect Africa’s natural reserves and culture and history. This will further stimulate the economy by providing cash flow straight to the people of the continent.
The connection between community-led tourism and ecotourism
Community-based tourism has a strong link with ecotourism. Ecotourism is a form of tourism where existing in harmony with the natural environment is strongly encouraged.
Tourists learn about the natural environment of Africa – one of the most variegated and dense natural environments anywhere in the world. At the same time, the locals are also encouraged to protect and maintain their surrounding environment.
Community-led tourism can drive economic growth and create employment opportunities among locals, which, in turn, will improve the nation as a whole.
Corporate or foreign investments, however, prioritise business growth over economic development. Such initiatives may not necessarily prioritise natural conservation. Community-led tourism, on the other hand, considers sustainable tourism to be a core philosophy.
The World Bank study on African Tourism
The World Bank conducted a study where they divided various African countries into four different categories. These categories were decided upon based on various criteria such as tourism infrastructure, governmental regulations specific to tourism, available resources, and more.
The four categories were ‘pre-emergent,’ ‘potential,’ ’emerging’ and ‘consolidating.’ Of these, countries listed under the ‘pre-emergent’ category require serious work when it comes to developing their national tourism infrastructure.
On the other hand, countries such as South Africa and Morocco found themselves listed under the ‘consolidated’ category. In this context, governmental bodies play a crucial role in facilitating community-based tourism.
Community-based tourism develops not only certain already advantaged sectors within African nations but also helps the people who need that support the most. By investing in community-led tourism, African governments and investors are developing more than the tourism industry. By investing in the people, the traditions, and the natural environment, Africa is preserving and promoting the best of everything it has to offer to tourists.
African governments should work hand in hand with local communities to showcase the best of the continent to tourists. The economic growth that community-led tourism brings through tourists will directly reach local communities and can be used to further develop every African country from the grassroots.
