Tourism in Africa
Tourism has played an increasingly important role in Africa over the past few decades. In particular, the economically more developed countries in the north are popular with tourists from Europe, America and Asia.
Besides these, but also South Africa in the far south and the large reserves in Kenya and Zimbabwe attract tens of thousands of tourists every year.
North Africa: well-known and popular
Egypt is particularly popular with tourists. Many cultural and historical highlights can be admired here. The pyramids of Giza and the Valley of the Kings on the Nile are world-famous. Both sites can often be visited in connection with a Nile cruise. The journey on one of the paddle steamers is no less exciting than the ancient sites themselves. For tourists less interested in culture, the large beach resorts on the Red Sea are a popular destination. As a rule, the country is visited by package tours, which also ensures a certain level of security.
The southern Africa: booming
In the southern countries of Africa, it is particularly the large African national parks with their wild animals that attract tourists. A safari where the Big Five can be observed is a must for every tourist. Since the end of the Cold War, demand for such trips has increased significantly. Tourism has now overtaken mining in importance in the southern African states. In 2006, mining accounted for only 5% of employment in these countries, while tourism accounted for 8%. By 2014, tourism is expected to rise to 14%. This is made possible by the 2010 Football World Cup but also by the cooperation of many states. In the currently relatively peaceful south of the continent, many nature parks have been created that extend across several countries. In the mid-1990s, South Africa was still a relatively unpopular travel destination, but it has now climbed into the top 20 of the most popular travel destinations.
Tourism in Africa: many downsides
Tourism in Africa has always had a very dubious reputation. In particular, sex tourism casts a negative light on the travel industry on the continent. While tourists from Western countries relax, many Africans prostitute themselves to feed their families with the money. It is also considered critical that many hotel complexes are guarded by the armies of the respective states for large sums of money. Tourists have a good time, from which the local population is usually excluded by drastic measures. Tourists, in turn, usually do not notice the poverty in African countries, as they are specifically taken to the tourist highlights.
