Unlocking the potential tourism opportunities on African Continent, the African Tourism Board is now promoting regional
tourism blocs for speeding up tourism development in Africa, famous for its amazing natural resources and attractive heritage sites.
Africa is a continent endowed with an array of natural wonders that are unmatched anywhere else in the world, ranging from the rich wildlife of the Serengeti national park in Tanzania to breathtaking landscapes of Sahara and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Africa is home to some of the world’s most incredible destinations including historical and cultural heritage sites, attractive ocean and lake beaches, hospitable people and nature’s diversity.
Despite all these remarkable tourism assets, Africa still lags in the global tourism market scope, and is in a great need of an aggressive tourist marketing and promotional drive.
The African Tourism Board (ATB) President, Mr. Cuthbert Ncube, said in Bukoba town in Western Tanzania over the weekend that Africa is still largely underdeveloped and lacks the investment needed to unlock its full potential.
Mr. Ncube said through his keynote speech at the East Africa Business Investment and Tourism Expo Conference in Tanzania that it is ATB’s responsibility to promote and develop tourism in Africa.
He said when addressing participants and tourism stakeholders at the tourism gathering which took place in Bukoba town on the shores of Lake Victoria. The tourism and business Expo had targeted development of tourism in Lake Victoria Basin.
“As the African Tourism Board, we urge all stakeholders in the tourism industry, including governments, private investors, and the communities that live around the Lake Victoria Basin, to work together to develop and promote tourism in this region”, Mr. Ncube said.
“Together, we can create a sustainable tourism industry that benefits both the communities in the Lake Victoria Basin and the tourists who visit this beautiful region”, he added.
“I am sure we can all agree that Africa is a continent endowed with an array of natural wonders that are unmatched anywhere else in the world”, Mr. Ncube told the gathering.
The ATB President further said that one of the main reasons for this is that the tourism industry in Africa is still largely underdeveloped and lacks the investment needed to unlock its full potential. This is where the Lake Victoria Basin comes in.
“This region is one of the most beautiful and diverse areas in Africa, yet it has been largely ignored by the tourism industry. The Lake Victoria Basin is an area that encompasses Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and it is home to over 35 million people”, he noted.
The Lake Victoria Basin is home to some of the most pristine natural landscapes anywhere in the world. From the Murchison Falls of Uganda to the Serengeti Plains of Tanzania, this region is replete with natural attractions that have the potential to attract millions of tourists each year.
However, lack of investment in the tourism industry in this region has meant that these hidden gems remain largely undiscovered.
“As the African Tourism Board, it is our responsibility to promote and develop tourism in Africa. This is why we are here’, said the ATB President.
Investing in tourism is crucial for the development of the Lake Victoria Basin and Africa as a whole. Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and it has the potential to create millions of jobs and drive economic growth across the continent.
Investing in tourism involves developing infrastructure, improving access to tourist destinations, promoting cultural exchanges, and creating sustainable tourism practices.
“For the Lake Victoria Basin, we must focus on investing in infrastructure such as transport, accommodation, and tourist facilities. We must also take into account the cultural sensitivities of the communities that live in the various areas of the Lake Victoria Basin”, he added.
Investing in tourism also means creating access to the various tourist attractions in the Lake Victoria Basin. This involves improving road networks, developing air transport links, and creating water transport links between the various destinations around the Lake.
