At the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda, it was revealed that the travel and tourism sector in Africa could generate a significant increase in the continent's economy, reaching the astounding figure of 168 billion dollars in the next 10 years. This projection is based on a report entitled "Unlocking Opportunities for the Growth of Travel and Tourism in Africa," presented during the second day of the WTTC Summit.

Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the WTTC, highlighted the extraordinary transformation that the travel and tourism sector in Africa has undergone in the last two decades. In her speech, she emphasized the need to implement three key policies to achieve an annualized growth of 6.5%, which could result in an even greater contribution of over 350 billion dollars.

The projected growth depends largely on improving air infrastructure, facilitating visa processes, and increasing tourism marketing campaigns in the region.

At the event, Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO of VFS Global, expressed his enthusiasm for partnering with the WTTC to explore the broad opportunities offered by the travel and tourism sector in Africa. He emphasized the importance of implementing effective policies and provided a clear roadmap for the continuous development of the market in the region.

The report also addresses the historical challenges faced by the travel and tourism sector in Africa, from the global financial crisis of 2008 to the obstacles caused by disease outbreaks and political instability. Despite these challenges, it is expected that 2023 will witness an almost complete recovery, with a decrease of 1.9% compared to 2019 levels, in addition to the creation of about 1.8 million additional jobs.

The report concludes by highlighting key opportunities for the sector in Africa, including strategic investments, improved connectivity, simplified visa processes, and the adoption of ecological measures to reduce carbon footprint. These actions could drive sustainable growth, job creation, and economic development in the African continent's travel and tourism sector.