Some statistics from the United
Nations World Tourism Organisation
make for compelling reading. For
example, growth in the global
travel and tourism industry has
outstripped global economic growth
by approximately 2.5% for the
better part of the past decade and
is projected to grow at a consistent
rate of 4% until 2030, also a higher
rate than the global economic
growth. Crucially, ecotourism as a
sub-sector of tourism is growing at
a rate of 10 to 15% annually, making
up an increasing proportion of global
travel and tourism. Ecotourists tend
to spend more on average, both in
time and money than a conventional
tourist. However, Africa only attracts
5% of the world’s tourists.
The World Travel & Tourism
Council reports that the global travel
& tourism sector directly sustains
twice as many jobs as the financial
sector, and five times as many jobs
as the chemicals manufacturing
sector and is a major contributor
to exports in developing countries.
Tourism contributes between
8 and 10% of South Africa’s GDP.
The South African government’s
stated aim is to build and support
the tourism industry. Ecotourism
has also shown itself to be an
effective mechanism for broad-
based inclusive economic growth
by creating the space for small
businesses to grow and flourish,
which is sorely needed in
South Africa.There is clearly room for growth
in the global market and South
Africa must take advantage of this.
This especially in light of the
African Continental Free Trade
Agreement (AfCFTA), which
was signed in Kigali, Rwanda on
21 March 2018. The AfCFTA will
allow for increased access to wildlife
stocks and as yet untapped tourist
markets in Africa.
South Africa must move
from resource-centric to more
sustainable industries. Both in
the short term, but particularly
the long term, the smart money
is on ecotourism.from the president's pen
Ecotourism has
shown itself to be an
effective mechanism
for broad-based
inclusive economic
growth by creating
the space for small
businesses to grow
and flourish.Leopard (Panthera Pardus).
Photo © Villiers Steyn