Such growth is partly explained by North Africa’s rebound from security crises as well as the development and implementation of policies that promote travel facilitation.

For over 25 years, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global private sector of travel and tourism, has produced the authoritative research on the economic contribution of the sector. The research also shows that in 2018:

• Travel and tourism contributed USD194,2 billion to the region’s economy, representing 8,5 percent of the continent’s GDP
• The sector contributed 24,3 million African jobs, or 6,7 percent of total employment.
• 71 percent of tourism spending across Africa was leisure-driven and 29 percent business
• Domestic spending accounted for 56 percent of the tourism economy versus 44 percent for international
• International tourism spending comprised 9,6 percent of the regions total exports, worth USD58, 5 billion

Ethiopia stands out not only as Africa’s fastest growing travel economy but indeed the worlds, growing by 48,6 percent in 2018 to be worth USD7,4 billion.

Then, Egypt’s tourism sector has demonstrated considerable resilience, growing by 16,5 percent in 2018 with international visitor spending accounting for 27,3 percent of exports. This follows huge safety improvements in the country and in key destinations such as Sharm El-Sheikh, helping to entice international tourists back to the northern coast.