Issue 11 | ...Celebrating the world’s richest continent | http://www.nomadafricamag.com | 59viation is one of the
fastest growing sec-
tors, particularly on
the African continent.
The Air Transport Ac-
tion Group (ATAG)
lists aviation as being responsible for close
to 63 million jobs globally in 2014, directly
contributing $2.7 trillion to the world GDP.
In 2015, airlines around the world carried
nearly 3.6 billion passengers. Economic
benefits of aviation not only include em -
ployment, but a plethora of industries:
world trade, manufacturing companies,
commercial aircraft operators, airports, air
navigation service providers and sustain-
ability of other economic sectors.
Air transport is essential for tourism in
Africa. With 54% of international tourists
travelling by air, it encourages economic
investment, improving innovation and ef-
ficiency in business and international co-
operation. Many remote areas are still
inaccessible by rail or road and can only
be accessed by air, making it a vital lifeline
to regions for tourism revenue and essen-
tial supplies like healthcare.
ATAG announced, “In 2034, there will be
over 5.8 billion global passengers and avi-
ation will support 99 million jobs, or $5.9
trillion in economic activity. However, if
growth were to slow by just 1%, the total
number of jobs supported by the air
transport sector (including tourism) would
be 10.5 million lower and there would be
a $690 billion lower world GDP, with $350
billion potentially lost through lower
tourism activity”. Of the 6.9 million jobs
supported by aviation across the African
continent, 428 000 are within the indus-
try itself and the rest are supported as
part of the industry’s supply chain and
tourism sector.
Tourism relies so heavily on aviation that
without it, economic growth would be im -
possible, particularly in developing coun-tries. Consider remote islands such as
Mauritius. In 2017, the number of tourist
arrivals increased by 6.1% to reach
1 360 000 p.a., with tourism earnings in-
creasing by 5.2% at Rs 58.8 billion. The
Bank of Mauritius is forecasting tourism
earnings at Rs 61.6 billion for 2018. Mau-
ritius’s main sources of tourists include
France, the UK, Germany, South Africa
and India. Without air travel, the numbers
would decrease dramatically, with travel
by sea being far too time consuming.
Since 2005, aviation in Africa was domi-
nated by ten countries: South Africa (17.2
million passengers in 2015), Egypt (10.2
million), Ethiopia (7.1 million), Morocco (6.8
million), Algeria (5.9 million), Kenya (4.9
million), Tunisia (3.5 million), Nigeria (3.2
million), Libya (2.6 million) and Mauritius
(1.5 million). Passenger growth in that pe-
riod was highest in Nigeria, with a 331%
increase and although Ethiopia is the third
biggest market, it enjoys the second high-a
Special Feature | Aviation & Tourism?TURBULENCE AHEAD?
AVIATION & TOURISM: CLEAR SKIES OR
Orville and Wilbur Wright, commonly known as The Wright brothers,
were two American inventors who arguably pioneered the aviation industry by
inventing and flying the world’s first airplane in 1903. Although the first flight only
lasted twelve seconds, the vision of the Wright brothers and other inventors inspired
and developed an industry that would take transportation to
unprecedented heights.Words: NICOLE LESCHINSKY