Having travelled extensively across Africa and engaged with citizens from many countries, I’ve observed a deep curiosity about the continent coupled with a lingering trepidation.
For example, while people in Southern Africa might readily explore nearby countries or venture eastward, many remain hesitant to travel to Central or West Africa.
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Conversations reveal that this reluctance often stems from media portrayals of certain regions as unsafe or unstable, a perception that limits valuable cultural exchange, knowledge-sharing and economic growth within our continent.
This narrative is especially fuelled by global news channels that amplify crises in Africa, while underreporting its progress or positive stories.
While it’s somewhat expected for non-Africans to harbour these views, it’s disheartening when Africans share this sentiment about other regions.
Today, Africa is more stable and secure than ever, yet outdated views persist, creating mental barriers against travel across our diverse nations.
Despite our continent’s vibrant diversity and the rich experiences it offers, Africa’s contribution to global tourism arrivals remains low at around five per cent and for a population of over 1.4 billion that is disappointingly low. If only a third of our population explored the continent, we could achieve a tremendous boost in tourism.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) supports this potential, projecting that improved policies promoting intra-Africa travel could grow Africa’s tourism sector by 6.5 per cent annually over the next decade. This growth could add an astounding $168 billion to the continent’s economy and create over 18 million new jobs, a November 2023 report of the WTTC noted.
To harness this potential, we must address and overcome four key challenges limiting intra-African travel.
Pan-African media: Shaping Africa’s narrative
The reluctance many Africans feel about exploring other parts of the continent is not just due to foreign perceptions but also rooted in fears shared within Africa itself. Major global news outlets such as CNN and BBC often highlight Africa’s challenges, while minimising its progress and diversity, leading to distorted views that amplify fear and mistrust among Africans about neighbouring regions.
To counter this, a pan-African media platform — championed by the African Union and aligned with Agenda 2063’s vision — could play a crucial role in reshaping Africa’s story. This initiative would offer a balanced and holistic view of the continent, highlighting not only Africa’s resilience but also the rich cultural and social tapestry that often goes unseen.
By showcasing local festivals, heritage sites, and community achievements, this platform would elevate stories that instil pride and foster unity across Africa.
As the African proverb goes, “until the lion tells its own story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.” With a dedicated pan-African media effort, Africans can tell their own stories, celebrate their shared identity, and encourage the movement and exchange that would bring Africa closer together.
Improve connectivity and infrastructure
One of the biggest obstacles to intra-African travel is connectivity. Limited direct flight routes force travellers to transit through Europe or the Middle East sometimes, drastically increasing travel costs and time.
The African Union’s Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative aims to “promote intra-regional connectivity between the capital cities of Africa by creating a single unified air transport market in Africa, as an impetus to the continent’s economic integration and growth agenda”.
Implementing SAATM across the continent would improve connectivity, making travel within Africa simpler and more affordable.
Investing in other infrastructure, such as railways and highways, would further facilitate intra-African travel. These networks would not only support tourism but also enhance trade, promote economic growth and encourage cultural exchange.
Address the cost of travel between African countries
Travel within Africa is notoriously expensive; for many, flying to Europe or Asia is often cheaper than travelling to another African country.
To counter this, African governments can adopt policies that reduce taxes and tariffs on travel within the continent, making it more affordable for citizens.
The WTTC report underscores that high travel costs are a significant barrier to tourism in Africa. Reducing these barriers could unlock enormous economic growth and job creation potential.
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With Africa’s middle class steadily growing, affordable travel could stimulate domestic tourism, unlocking the vast potential of African travellers for intra-continental exploration.
Simplify visa policies across African nations
Although the African Union has committed to free movement within the continent, visa policies remain inconsistent. While regional blocs such as the East African Community (EAC) and West Africa (ECOWAS) member states enjoy visa-free travel within their regions, this freedom does not extend across Africa.
Simplifying visa policies or establishing a visa-free or visa-on-arrival system for all African countries would dramatically ease travel within Africa.
Efforts such as the African Union Passport and visa waiver agreements for certain countries show that the groundwork for open movement already exists; South Africa and Ghana’s recent agreement, which yielded a staggering increase in travel of 327.7 per cent from Ghana to South
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Africa within one year is an example of this. Expanding these policies would encourage Africans to travel more freely, fostering cross-border connections and strengthening the tourism sector.
The way forward
Africans have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to break down the barriers that hinder travel across our continent. By reshaping Africa’s narrative, investing in infrastructure, reducing travel costs and simplifying visa policies, we can unlock a new era of intra-African travel.
The benefits are profound. A thriving travel sector, as the WTTC projects, could contribute an additional $168 billion to Africa’s economy and generate over 18 million jobs in the coming decade.
Travel fosters understanding, builds shared histories and drives economic growth. As more Africans explore Africa, the continent’s resilience, diversity and potential will be known not only to the world but to its people.
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This post was originally published on here
