<img src="https://scontent.fnbo1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/72737550_2234441163328734_3745368441691832320_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=730e14&amp;_nc_ohc=O098Fu3eDF4AX-dxv4O&amp;_nc_ht=scontent.fnbo1-1.fna&amp;oh=00_AfDLM5eRRUzQvv7Gty8-iuh8twIxYwhhcQ9x_f_29gwM3Q&amp;oe=6415553A" alt="FlySAA Kenya" width="1822" height="1215" />
Image Source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FlySAAKenya/photos/a.359206474185555/2234441159995401/">Facebook</a>
Africa&rsquo;s tourism and travel industry is on the rise, with global <a href="https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4095186.html">statistics</a> showing that the continent is the second fastest-growing tourism industry. However, despite the remarkable strides, the burgeoning industry is yet to come of age.
For starters, Europe, the leading global travel destination, received <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/186743/international-tourist-arrivals-worldwide-by-region-since-2010/#:~:text=Overall%2C%20Europe%20reported%20the%20highest,way%20below%20pre%2Dpandemic%20levels.">303 million</a> in 2021, despite the pandemic. On the other hand, the entire African continent received 18.5 million visitors during the same period, yet the continent is 2,97 times larger than Europe.&nbsp;
Africa has plenty, including natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage, to offer avid global travelers. However, the continent can address the factors below to improve international traveler traffic.
<h2>Limited Transport Infrastructure</h2>
Transport network and travel go hand-in-hand. Developed transport networks (road, rail, and airport systems) lower travel costs and reduce the travel duration between destinations.&nbsp;
For example, the high-speed train networks in Europe move at speeds of over 250km/hr (125 miles/hr), allowing travelers to traverse the continent with ease. Second, most European railway networks utilize government structures; hence the governments offer subsidies that lower travel costs significantly. Moreover, cross-border collaboration between governments, using harmonized technical and operational standards, facilitates seamless travel across borders.
However, Africa is yet to realize such a comprehensive transport system. Besides road and rail, most African countries have limited airport infrastructure, hampering airlifts with and among African countries. Second, although most African cities have multiple public and private travel options, the continent&rsquo;s remote areas aren&rsquo;t as fortunate.
Poor roads and limited, dated railway networks mean it takes considerably longer to access far-flung areas. Moreover, besides being bumpy, the available murram roads are susceptible to wet weather, slowing travel significantly. Ironically, most world-famous African attractions are in these untapped remote regions.
While private operators pick up the slack, providing alternative vehicles and domestic airlines, they offer no subsidies. Therefore, besides slow speeds, travel costs in Africa are on the costlier side.
<img src="https://scontent.fnbo1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/284081902_321685326819665_3451562753620648070_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=730e14&amp;_nc_ohc=F0yV2_ZkPTQAX_QmrQv&amp;_nc_ht=scontent.fnbo1-1.fna&amp;oh=00_AfA61gUoJYsaVR2lhLs-VBkwjYpRna3dfwgKeTrGiaPhbg&amp;oe=63F2EB3D" alt="Kenya National Highways Authority" width="2048" height="1153" />
Image Source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=321685333486331&amp;set=pb.100069345993848.-2207520000.&amp;type=3">Facebook</a>
<h2>Limited Crossborder Collaboration</h2>
Besides the infrastructural challenges, unique entry requirements in different African countries limit travelers&rsquo; free movement across Africa. Although the East Africa regional block (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda) has a regional visa allowing you to visit all three countries, other regional blocks are yet to deploy regional visas.
The varying visa requirements for each autonomous nation mean that travelers must pay multiple visa fees to gain entry into each country, inflating travel costs. Cross-border movement is especially challenging for back-packers and individuals who do not engage African-based tour operators while planning a trip into the continent. However, other regions, aside from East Africa, have plans to roll out regional visas.&nbsp;
<img src="https://scontent.fnbo1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/315892729_508477784654229_7086237593629637727_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=730e14&amp;_nc_ohc=rKKvA30--SsAX-op0dz&amp;_nc_ht=scontent.fnbo1-1.fna&amp;oh=00_AfBlNUMrvs9h9lsRk1XvDErYzl6A8PEAy_rCMkGvS1nZpw&amp;oe=63F36911" alt="Kenya Airport Authority " width="2048" height="1365" />
Image Source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=508477787987562&amp;set=pcb.508479901320684">Facebook</a>
<h2>Disrupted History</h2>
Colonialism in Africa had numerous adverse effects that permeate the continent to date, including cultural invasion and alienation. Cultural invasion is a culture penetration strategy masquerading as a cultural exchange, yet the invading culture overwhelms and compromises the integrity of the receiving culture. On the other hand, cultural alienation entails devaluing one&rsquo;s own culture due to an inferiority complex.
Unlike in other civilizations, whereby individuals passed down cultural heritage through inscribed records, Africans utilized more hands-on approaches like oral traditions, apprenticeship, and community rituals. The African community elders, who doubled as cultural gatekeepers, passed down the cultural mantle from generation to generation at the appropriate time.&nbsp;
Therefore, the colonialism-induced cultural invasion and alienation disrupted the cultural handover, causing many African communities to lose crucial cultural elements. Moreover, the colonialists plundered various monuments of cultural significance and took invaluable African artefacts.&nbsp;
Consequently, unlike in Europe or Asia, where cultural visitors can view or even live in preserved streets and buildings that are centuries old, they can only view historical ruins in most parts of Africa. The limited cultural knowledge, artifacts, and monuments tend to ward off cultural connoisseurs.
<img src="https://scontent.fnbo1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/315452417_3750919395135200_203876502088963222_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=8bfeb9&amp;_nc_ohc=5mu9H7Cyvg4AX_32qQC&amp;_nc_ht=scontent.fnbo1-1.fna&amp;oh=00_AfDv-UButua0F2BIXZu1cH7e1rBn3FCD6Ebh3Yf64nvNUw&amp;oe=63F22928" alt="Bomas of Kenya" width="1024" height="682" />
Image Source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bomasofkenya/photos/3750919408468532">Facebook</a>
<h2>Limited Tourism Options&nbsp;</h2>
Travel today is more multi-faceted than ever, featuring multiple tourism types. Popular tourism/travel types include adventure, leisure, cultural, wildlife, culinary, wellness, business, backpacking, incentive, and sports and recreation tourism, among others.&nbsp;
Unfortunately, Africa only taps into limited travel markets. The continent undoubtedly dominated the wildlife travel niche but lags in most other niches, yet it has something to offer in each niche. However, African content creators are taking the mantle, showcasing the continent&rsquo;s hidden gems globally to attract diverse traveler niches.
<img src="https://scontent.fnbo1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/320756289_1031168044546624_4690503371197843241_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=8bfeb9&amp;_nc_ohc=nthnhPr8G58AX9o_EjS&amp;_nc_ht=scontent.fnbo1-1.fna&amp;oh=00_AfBWyxD8IHoZFPapjwpcQZJjNfohcloysLuCszog2oi8Ow&amp;oe=63F25008" alt="Kenya" width="2048" height="1152" />
Image Source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=543733314460563&amp;set=pb.100064716964787.-2207520000.&amp;type=3">Facebook</a>
<h2>Low Domestic Tourism</h2>
Domestic travel is as crucial as foreign travel in stimulating a region&rsquo;s travel industry. One <a href="https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/news_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/news+and+events/news/reinventing-africa-tourism">statistical report</a> shows that domestic tourism accounts for 55% of Africa&rsquo;s travel spending, yet the continent ranked fourth in local tourism after North America, Asia, and Europe.&nbsp;
The primary challenge to domestic tourism in Africa is visa requirements. Although the African Union launched the United Africa passport, it is only accessible to select dignitaries. Only a handful of African countries extend visa-free entry to fellow African countries.
Although Africa lags in various travel elements, it remains a bucket-list-worthy destination and is working towards streamlining its travel industry. Contact us and let us use our first-hand experience navigating various travel challenges across the continent to create memorable curated trips for you.
<h2>Resources:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4095186.html">https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4095186.html</a></li>
<li><a style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/186743/international-tourist-arrivals-worldwide-by-region-since-2010/#:~:text=Overall%2C%20Europe%20reported%20the%20highest,way%20below%20pre%2Dpandemic%20levels">https://www.statista.com/statistics/186743/international-tourist-arrivals-worldwide-by-region-since-2010/#:~:text=Overall%2C%20Europe%20reported%20the%20highest,way%20below%20pre%2Dpandemic%20levels</a>.</li>
<li><a style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;" href="https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/news_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/news+and+events/news/reinventing-africa-tourism">https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/news_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/news+and+events/news/reinventing-africa-tourism</a></li>
</ul>
Header Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@sharaan?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Sharaan Muruvan</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/miVCpIj0Zo8?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>&nbsp;

Barriers to Free Movement in Africa: Why The Continent Lags in Travel