"African Travel and Tourism Association boss praises \u2018resilience\u2019 of African tourism"

" \n African Travel and Tourism Association boss praises \u2018resilience\u2019 of African tourism \n \n\n \n South Africa\u2019s removal of all remaining Covid travel restrictions came as a major boost during last week\u2019s Experience Africa trade show. \n \n\n \n The three-day event in London saw nearly 200 travel agents meet more than 100 operators and suppliers from sub-Saharan Africa. \n \n\n \n It was the first time the show has been able to take place in-person since before the pandemic and visitors had to contend with UK visa delays and a national rail strike. \n \n\n \n But Chris Mears, executive director of the African Travel & Tourism Association (Atta), declared the event a \u201cfantastic success\u201d as Africa bounces back from the pandemic. \n \n\n \n \u201cThe African tourism community is very close-knit. This was the first opportunity for many people to see each other for a long time,\u201d he said. \n \n\n \n \u201cBeing able to connect through technology is wonderful, but there are things it cannot replicate.\u201d \n \n\n \n Mears said the South Africa announcement was a morale booster and a reflection that the region was \u201cproperly back and ready to accept visitors\u201d. \n \n\n \n \u201cIt\u2019s back to normal,\u201d he said. \u201cNumbers are up, and a lot of properties are fully booked, which is wonderful to see. Unlike in more\u2011developed countries, there was not the same level of government support for tourism businesses. \n \n\n \n \u201cThey had to dig deep into their own pockets to support themselves and their employees to ensure there was a business as we came out of the pandemic. \n \n\n \n \u201cIt\u2019s fantastic to see so many businesses are still there. There has been a lot of resilience.\u201d \n \n\n \n Mears said the impact of the pandemic was felt not only by tourism companies but also by conservation projects reliant on income from visitors. \n \n\n \n This \u201cdouble whammy\u201d was mitigated by more domestic and intra-Africa travel, which Mears said he hoped would continue post-pandemic. \n \n\n \n The UK, traditionally a vital market for all sub-Saharan destinations, has been knocked off top spot by the US, but Mears said confidence was returning to the long-haul sector. \n \n\n \n \u201cTalking to tour operators at the show, demand is huge,\u201d he said. \n \n\n \n \u201cPostponed bookings are now working their way through the system, so they are generating new business. Teams are very busy and are dealing with a lot of enquiries, which is encouraging to see.\u201d \n \n\n \n Mears described focused trade events such as Experience Africa as \u201cthe future\u201d, giving destinations the opportunity to educate and address misperceptions. \n \n\n \n \u201cWe need to educate people on Africa, the opportunities and how to sell it, because once you go, you come back time and again,\u201d he said. \n "

"African Travel and Tourism Association boss praises \u2018resilience\u2019 of African tourism"

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