Interesting atricle which looks at the future development and role of tourism in Africa. It could make a potentially huge difference to the life of local communities and the development of the country as a whole but of course this needs to be a carefully managed process in which the needs of the community needs to be paramount.
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"Tourism is the biggest industry in the world - and Africa has exactly 4% of the market for it. What the continent has in its favour, though, is the one commodity that all the world’s less developed countries share (and developed countries envy): an unspoilt environment, great climate and rich cultural traditions. These happen to be the very attractions that tomorrow’s eco-conscious tourist will be seeking out. Yet they are being massively underutilised by most African countries."
Dawie de Villiers, a former South African cabinet minister who is now deputy head of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), says the continent’s governments must place tourism at the heart of their growth policies. “Tourism has the potential to be a powerful tool in antipoverty and pro-poor development strategies,” De Villiers told delegates at a recent conference. “We believe that the economic and development strength of the tourism industry should be more effectively mobilised in the fight against poverty.”
"De Villiers, a former South African cabinet minister for tourism, warns that not all tourism is good. In particular, he stresses that local communities must benefit and the industry must be effectively planned if it is to be sustainable."
http://www.businessinafrica.net/features/tourism/393143.htm
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