1.5 billion international tourist arrivals were recorded in 2019, globally. That’s a collective 4% increase on the previous year which was the forecast for 2020 – before COVID-19 brought all travel to a halt. Nonetheless, these numbers confirm tourism as a leading and resilient economic sector, especially in view of current uncertainties. By the same token, this calls for such growth to be managed responsibly so as to best seize the opportunities tourism can generate for communities around the world.
Many African countries saw a rise in international arrivals in 2019. Here’s a look at the most popular countries in tourism revenue receipts.
Top 20 African Countries in International Tourism Receipts (2014 – 2019 growth over the period)
- Egypt (+7%)
- South Africa (-1%)
- Morocco (+1%)
- Ethiopia (+10%)
- Tanzania (+4%)
- Nigeria (+29%)
- Mauritius (+4%)
- Tunisia (-7%)
- Kenya (-1%)
- Sudan (+2%)
- Uganda (+1%)
- Ghana (0%)
- Madagascar (+4%)
- Zambia (+3%)
- Angola (-16%)
- Cameroon (0%)
- Seychelles (+5%)
- Botswana (+1%)
- Rwanda (-1%)
- Ivory Coast/Cote d’Ivoire
Where These Countries Sit on the Global List
- #32 Egypt
- #36 South Africa
- #38 Morocco
- #64 Ethiopia
- #77 Tanzania
- #81 Nigeria
- #82 Mauritius
- #83 Tunisia
- #91 Kenya
- #99 Sudan
- #102 Uganda
- #106 Ghana
- #108 Madagascar
- #116 Zambia
- #118 Angola
- #120 Cameroon
- #121 Seychelles
- #124 Botswana
- #127 Rwanda
- #128 Ivory Coast/Cote d’Ivoire
Source: Nation Master
