Global tourists seek safer destinations

As the frequency of  terror attacks go on the upsurge, global tourists who are looking to avoid terror threats are now looking for safer destinations.

The development is expected to open up and sustain the growth of destinations that were not in tourists’ radar before now.

Sadly, it will impact the World Tourism Oragnisation’s (UNWTO) projection of almost two billion tourist arrivals at the end of 2016 experts say. As the world faces more terror attacks, fewer people are expected to travel, and tourism receipts and contribution to global gross domestic products are negatively affected.

For instance, Spain, the Canary Islands, and Cyprus which are considered as safer destinations, are now choice destinations for European holiday makers who used to flock Tunisia and Egypt before terror attacks last June, in which 38 tourists died.

Tunisia, Egypt and other countries with travel restrictions due to terror attacks are losing huge revenue from tourism and commerce, as would-be visitors divert their dollars to more peaceful destinations.

The Gambia is once again wooing more European holiday makers, as the small country, though predominantly muslim, is considered as one of the safest places in Africa.

While Ghana is considered more peaceful than Nigeria, the West African country is yet to attract more foreign tourists because of lack of tourism infrastructure and its presumed closeness to Nigeria, from where the Boko Haram Islamic sect is recently being routed by the military in the north-east.

Kenya, which used to attract lots of Americans on safari holiday is losing out on the frequent terror attacks by the Al Shabab Islamist militants. In its stead, the more peaceful Rwanda, and Tanzania are considered by tourists, while Ethiopia woos with its modern infrastructure and best air connectivity across Africa and beyond.

South Africa, with its world-class infrastructure is prime destination for many foreigners, but the frequency of violence, especially concerning xenophobia, restricts most African tourists to cities with maximum security. 

Ikechi Uko, a travel esxpert who is CEO of Akwaaba Travel Market, says Africans can generate huge revenue from travelling within, especially now that safety is core to choosing holiday destinations across the world.

To attract the global tourists in most safe destinations in Africa, Uko observes that security and infrastructure deficit must be addressed because tourists are leaving their comfort zones and should be accorded some comfort as well.

World-class airports, good hotels, well-packaged products and tours, improved service culture, easy movement within, are among things needed to woo tourists to African countries regarded as safer destinations.

Mike Anah, another travel expert, says the development would have helped most African destinations where there is relative peace, but the reverse is the case because most of them have not made efforts at improving on their tourism and hospitality offerings. 

“Yes, tourists are looking for peaceful destinations to spend their money, but the destinations must have offerings and facilities that are worth the money they are spending, no matter how small the money is”, Anah said.

While Africa is the next frontier for global tourists, Oyemade Salako, a travel agent, noted that the continent would have been a destination option for global tourists in the wake of terrorism, but Africans have not made good efforts at repackaging and selling the continent as choice holiday destination to the world. 

“Most Europeans need to visit to see a different Africa, far from the dark picture their colonial ancestors painted, but they need someone to sell the countries beyond the draught, hunger, wars and crime that are always reported about the continent even by local media. Nigeria is being portrayed in bad light by other African countries and you do not expect a Nigerian to say nice things about such countries. So, we keep losing those who even want to risk travel warnings to visit the country”, Salako said.

OBINNA EMELIKE