As nations increasingly abandon visa requirements, Africa is witnessing a surge in Intra-Africa tourism, with expectations of continued growth throughout 2024. The 2023 Africa Visa Openness Index by the African Development Bank reveals that 50 countries have either improved or maintained their openness scores, attributing the increase to country-to-country agreements eliminating or easing visa restrictions.
In 2023, several African countries made significant strides towards liberalizing their visa policies, with Rwanda and Kenya joining the ranks of nations that have completely removed visa requirements for all African travelers, including Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles.
Kenya’s transition to a visa-free regime garnered considerable attention, with almost ten thousand applications for the new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) received by the Immigration Department in the first week of January 2024 alone. Julius Bitok, Kenya’s Immigration Principal Secretary, acknowledged the initial sound issues but assured that they would be resolved before the Economics and Social Committee’s return.
Kenya aims to double its annual tourism numbers, expecting a rise from 2 million to 5 million arrivals, thanks to the new system. The broader continental effort to promote free movement across Africa is anticipated to bolster tourism and trade, aligning with the vision of the ‘Africa We Want,’ as emphasized by the African Development Bank.
A survey by Kenya’s Tourism Research Institute in 2023 indicates a notable increase in African nationals visiting Kenya, surpassing European, North American, and Asian visitors. The primary purpose of travel for 39.4% of respondents was leisure, with business-related activities at 27.2%, and 20.6% traveling to visit friends and family.
Tanzania’s National Bureau of Statistics reported increased African arrivals, with the majority coming from Kenya, Burundi, Zambia, Rwanda, and Uganda. South Africa also experienced a surge in tourists from the rest of Africa, constituting 75.8% of all arrivals.
Zimbabwe and Kenya stood out for exceptional growth in tourist arrivals, with Zimbabwe witnessing a remarkable 115.6% increase and Kenya recording a 110.2% surge during the period under review compared to 2022.
The WTM Global Travel Report forecasts robust demand for leisure travel in Africa in 2024. Egypt is expected to retain its position as the largest destination for inbound luxury travel receipts, while Mauritius is predicted to climb the rankings to become the sixth-largest inbound market in Africa. Ethiopia is anticipated to enter the top 10 for domestic travel spend, pushing Angola and Tunisia down the rankings.
