Musalia Mudavadi, Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary, speaks at the official opening of Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, on June 12, 2023.(Photo by Charles Onyango/Xinhua)
The 2023 edition of the African Hospitality Investment Forum concluded in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi Wednesday, with policymakers, industry leaders and experts agreeing that the tourism sector in the continent is on a recovery trajectory amid the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
NAIROBI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The 2023 edition of the African Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) concluded in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi Wednesday, with policymakers, industry leaders, and experts agreeing that the tourism sector in the continent is on a recovery trajectory amid the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
Kenya hosted the premier gathering of investors in the continent's hospitality and travel sector on June 12-14, attended by an estimated 500 delegates from more than 40 countries. Held against a backdrop of eased COVID-19 travel restrictions globally, the three-day event cast a spotlight on emerging opportunities in the rapidly evolving hospitality sector of Africa.
During his remarks at the forum's opening Monday, Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said Africa's tourism industry is poised for an accelerated post-pandemic recovery, aided by conducive macroeconomic policies, product diversification, and targeted marketing. "The tourism sector in the continent is rebranding after the COVID-19 pandemic slump to increase the number of arrivals," Mudavadi said.
Participants attend the official opening of Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, on June 12, 2023.(Photo by Charles Onyango/Xinhua)
Among the participants at the forum are ministers of tourism from Kenya and Zimbabwe, leading investors in the industry, executives from international hotel chains, service providers, and experts.
Matthew Weihs, the managing director of Bench Events, the forum's convener, said the forum provided a platform for showcasing untapped opportunities in Africa's hospitality industry to potential investors.
According to Weihs, the continent's travel and tourism sectors are ready for take-off, fueled by investors' confidence in a continent that has not experienced major political or economic shocks.
Weihs added that the diversity of natural wealth in Africa, including wildlife, coastal beaches and tropical grasslands, good climate, and famed hospitality of its local communities, has been luring foreign tourists to the continent in large numbers.
The hospitality industry in Africa is gradually returning to its pre-pandemic levels, supported by fiscal incentives from the government, a high number of domestic travelers, and investments in new high-end hotels, said Pat Thaker, the editorial and regional director for Middle East and Africa at The Economist Intelligence Unit.
Thaker noted that the projected increase in the number of outbound Chinese tourists will benefit African countries, adding that the pandemic was a wake-up call for the continent to enhance the resilience of its domestic tourism market.
She suggested that investors in Africa's tourism sector should heighten vigilance amid threats posed by geopolitical tensions, global inflation, climatic shocks, and volatility in the commodities market.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has said Africa currently receives a 5 percent share of global tourism, but the numbers are expected to rise exponentially.
According to the UNWTO, 47 million tourists returned to Africa in 2022 after a high of 69 million in 2019, amid projections of 134 million visitors by 2035, making the continent the fastest-growing tourist destination after the Asia Pacific region.
During the forum, industry leaders agreed on the importance of leveraging digital technologies, addressing supply chain issues, and diversifying product portfolios to meet the needs of young travelers.
Abraham Muthogo Kamau, the vice president of Africa at Toggle Market, a developer and operator of cross-border multi-tenant supply chain infrastructure, said the continent's hospitality sector stands to gain from local sourcing and digitization in order to reduce operational costs.
Kamau further said the African Continental Free Trade Area will benefit the hospitality sector through seamless cross-border movement of business and leisure travelers. ■
