Africa’s Tourism Sector Continues To Grow in 2025 – Increasing Investments as a Foundation for Sustainable Growth

Tourism Investment in Africa

Africa’s tourism sector remains one of the fastest-growing regions worldwide in 2025 and is increasingly becoming a strategic driver of economic development, employment and international investment. Strong tourist demand combined with rising tourism investment in Africa is shaping a positive long-term outlook for the continent.

Tourist Arrivals Continue to Rise

In the first quarter of 2025, international arrivals increased by 9% compared to the previous year — around 16% above pre-pandemic levels.* During the first half of 2025, the continent recorded another rise of 12%, driven by significant growth in North Africa (+14%) and Sub-Saharan Africa (+11%). By the end of the third quarter, Africa remained the world’s fastest-growing tourism region, reporting a year-on-year increase of 10% in international arrivals.

Investments Drive Strong Momentum

Parallel to rising demand, substantial tourism investment in Africa is flowing into the sector. According to UN Tourism, between 2019 and 2024, the continent recorded 105 announced greenfield tourism projects worth a combined USD 6.6 billion, expected to create over 15,100 direct jobs.

Key investment destinations include established markets such as Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Kenya and Nigeria — while countries like Angola, Senegal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire are gaining prominence for strategic investors.

“African destinations are gaining clear momentum, driven by targeted investments in infrastructure, skills development and sustainable tourism projects,” says Hanna Kleber, Chairwoman of Voice4Africa and co-founder of the ReThinking Africa Initiative. “International players recognize the opportunities, and African governments are creating the conditions for dynamic and sustainable growth.”

Around 90% of all announced investments are directed toward the hotel sector. At the same time, new development corridors are emerging: Angola’s new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport in Luanda — a USD 2.8 billion project — is set to become a future hub for Southern and Central Africa.

According to the ICAO AFI Plan, Africa’s air transport sector is projected to grow to around 273 million passengers by 2035. IATA estimates that the aviation sector already supports 7–8 million jobs and contributes approximately USD 63 billion to the continent’s GDP — making it a key driver of tourism growth.

New Tourism Experiences and Infrastructure

New tourism experiences are emerging across the continent, aligned with global travel trends. Conservation and eco-tourism projects link biodiversity protection with local value chains; cultural and culinary tourism attract new visitor segments; wellness and sports tourism continue to expand; and coastal destinations benefit from investments in ports and maritime economic zones.

The MICE sector is also growing rapidly. Emerging business hubs such as Kigali, Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg and Cape Town increasingly attract conferences and events, generating year-round travel demand.

Rail infrastructure is opening additional opportunities for experiential tourism aimed at high-spending travelers. Beyond South Africa’s iconic luxury trains such as the Blue Train and Rovos Rail, countries like Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia are positioning themselves with historic and scenic rail routes.

The multimodal Lobito Corridor connecting Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo — part of the EU Global Gateway Initiative — is regarded as a future-oriented driver for trade, mobility and long-term tourism development.

Strong Foundations for Sustainable Tourism Growth

Population growth, improved connectivity, economic momentum and ongoing political reforms underscore the enormous potential of Africa’s tourism sector. Investors who prioritize sustainability, skills development and partnership-based cooperation can create substantial economic and social value in the coming years.

*UN World Tourism Barometer 2025.