ACP-bound tourism buoyant - More scope for cooperation with EU in fast-growing sector

Bar the occasional shock, in terms of arrivals numbers, there has been virtually uninterrupted growth in the tourism sector since the 1950s, according to the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), a specialised United Nations agency. The sector creates employment - especially in small island nations - and triggers development in other areas of the economy; construction, agriculture and telecommunications. Recognised for its potential to harness socio-economic progress, there are calls more cooperation at an EU level, notably with Africa.

Globally, tourist arrivals rose by nearly 7 per cent in 2010 to 940 million arrivals, generating US$ 919 billion (€693bn) in export earnings, says the UNTWO. The body predicts an increase of between 4-5 per cent in 2011. Confidence is high in many ACP regions. Arrivals in Sub-Saharan Africa climbed from 6.4M in 1990 to 30.7M today with 8 per cent growth recorded last year.  South Africa accounted for over a quarter of the total figure of visitors to Sub-Saharan Africa, the country attracting 15 per cent more tourists in 2010 in the wake of the FIFA World Cup. Other countries that attracted many more tourists last year were: Madagascar (+21 per cent), Cape Verde (+17 per cent), Tanzania and the Seychelles (both +11 per cent last year).

Some Pacific destinations also performed strongly in 2010. In Fiji, one of the region’s leading destinations arrivals moved ahead 16 per cent in 2010 compared with 2009, according to UNWTO statistics. The Caribbean also saw 4 per cent more visitors in 2010, making up for the decline in 2009, says the UNWTO. Three destinations recorded new visitor peaks: Jamaica (+5 per cent), Cuba (+4 per cent) and the Dominican Republic (+3 per cent).

Caribbean faces competition

For the Caribbean region, the onus is now on staying ahead of the competition. At the annual Caribbean Tourism Summit held this year in Brussels in March 2011, Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Ricky Skerritt, who is also Minister of Tourism of St. Kitts & Nevis, told European partners that Caribbean hotels and related businesses had to become more competitive in view of vigorous competition from nations as diverse as China, India and Dubai. “Our two strongest friends traditionally, the USA and Europe are also now more actively prospecting for visitor arrivals in the same markets as the Caribbean,” said Skerritt. The CTO’s Secretary General, Hugh Riley, suggested to the

Courier that the EU and its Member States should explore the scope for wider cooperation, particularly in relation to the services chapter of the region’s Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU (see article on Caribbean).

In the past the EU has funded national and regional tourism projects in ACP countries and continues to do so. This dossier details, for example, a new regional project for the Pacific financed under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) which is designed to bolster the tourism sector. A recent EU-financed international marketing campaign (2009-2010) to promote Kenyan tourism enabled the broadcasting of television spots on CNN, BBC World and Euronews. “Both Kenya and the EU are satisfied with the outcome of these marketing campaigns that contributed to tourism recovery after the sad events following the Elections 2007. Kenya has almost recovered the numbers (tourist arrivals) recorded in 2007.”  Ibrahim Laafia, Counsellor at the EU Delegation in Kenya, told the Courier.

The Treaty of Lisbon signed in 2007 contains a chapter on the strengthening of the EU as the foremost tourist destination of the world. EU Member States, France (number one global destination) Italy and Spain are still in the top five most visited tourist destinations worldwide but according to UNWTO figures, have been recently joined by China. Giving teeth to the Lisbon Treaty, Daniel Calleja-Crespo, Deputy Director General of the European Commission for Enterprise and Industry, believes co-operation in the sector with Africa should be explored at the EU level. “European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani [Ed: EU Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry] gives the highest priority to reinforcing relations between the EU and Africa which he considers to be the "continent of the future. Tourism, in particular, can play a very important role in strengthening the links between both continents,” the Deputy Director General told the Courier. He added: “Our task now is to work towards these goals to encourage
the creation of a favourable environment to develop the undertakings in this sector, in particular SMEs, and to promote cooperation between both continents. The establishment of flexible and efficient tourism bodies could improve the environment for tourism-related businesses in Africa. I believe there are huge opportunities for cooperation that should not be missed.”

Indian Ocean tourism weathers global recession
       
The islands of Mauritius and Seychelles are extending what they have on offer but are mindful of doing it in an environmentally sustainable way.

Seychelles has managed to weather the storm of global recession and is on course for a third record year of visitors, largely due to a robust government/private sector partnership which has given the tourism sector a valuable boost, says Ralph Hissen of the Seychelles Tourism Board. Tourism is still the main pillar of the economy and the country is seeking to build on its “suite of niche activities” such as fishing tourism and its platform of events-based tourist activities. These include the ‘Carnaval International de Victoria’ and ‘SUBIOS: Seychelles Festival of the Sea‘, the annual festival of the underwater photography and film to take place this year from 4-6 November. “Almost half of the country’s limited landmass has been set aside as national parks and marine reserves and this sets the tone for future development”, says Ralph Hissen.

To the South, the island of Mauritius is the 10th most popular destination for tourism on the African continent, according to World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) rankings, although figures dipped in 2009. Roselyne Hauchler of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority says tourist arrivals numbered 871,356 in 2009, accounting for 6.6 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This compares with 930,456 arrivals in 2009, making up 7.9 per cent of GDP. She adds that last year a recovery was signalled with arrivals picking up to 934,827 (6.9 per cent of GDP). Future development plans include fewer hotels and more “integrated tourism projects”, such as those combining hotel and residential accommodation. The country has a wealth of tourism products, from medical to wedding tourism. She too stresses the importance of future development being environmentally sustainable.

To the West of Seychelles and Mauritius, Comoros, one of the least visited places on the globe, has tourism potential given its unspoilt beauty.

Debra Percival