Since the end of the COVID-19 crisis, Africa’s tourism industry has been recovering. However, the sector's rebound has been more pronounced in certain countries, significantly reshaping the ranking of Africa’s top tourist destinations.

In 2024, Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa attracted the highest number of tourists in Africa. Morocco recorded 17.4 million visitors, an increase of 3 million compared to the 14.5 million registered in 2023, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Tourism.

The North African kingdom has nearly reached its target of 17.5 million tourists for the year.

This places Morocco ahead of Egypt, which nonetheless saw an increase from 14.9 million visitors in 2023 to 15.7 million in 2024, according to figures released by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. Some analysts suggest that the conflict in Gaza has somewhat slowed down the tourism sector in the land of the pharaohs.

South Africa has yet to release its official figures, as the 2024-2025 fiscal year concludes in March. The Rainbow Nation had aimed to match its pre-pandemic annual record of 10 million visitors in 2024 and plans to increase the number to 15 million by 2030.

The latest data from South African Tourism indicates that 7.2 million tourists visited the country during the first ten months of 2024, from January to October.

Significant Contributions to the Economy

For these three countries, the tourism industry is a key sector of the economy, as it stimulates multiple sub-sectors (hospitality, restaurants, aviation, tour operators, small businesses, personal services, arts, etc.) and creates numerous jobs.

In Morocco, tourism accounts for nearly 7% of the gross domestic product (GDP). By the end of November 2024, tourism revenues had reached 104 billion dirhams (approximately $10.3 billion), according to the Ministry of Tourism.

In Egypt, tourism revenues in 2023 were estimated at approximately $31 billion. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the direct and indirect contribution of tourism to South Africa’s GDP was 8.2% in 2023. That year, the sector generated 1.46 million jobs.

Source of the article: Ecomnews Afrique