Ebola’s latest toll: African economies and tourism

Persistent media coverage of Ebola in the States and around the world has delivered a financial blow to West Africa’s tourism industry. Flight bookings to sub-Saharan Africa may drop as much as 50 percent over the next four months, according to market research company Euromonitor International Plc. That would put the brakes on a tourism industry the World Bank says grew at the fastest pace globally over the past three years, Bloomberg reported. Now, many travel operators worry that Americans’ fear about traveling to parts of Africa that have not been affected will dampen business for years to come.

It’s predicted that roughly one tourism worker is supporting at least 10 family members in Africa.

Dr. Phyllis Kozarsky, a medical consultant to the CDC

As far as traveling to Africa, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises against trips to Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, with instructions to “avoid nonessential travel” to those countries. Increased warnings have also been issued for the Congo. To date, there is no warning from the CDC about traveling to other parts of Africa.

I like to remind people that there are currently more diagnosed Ebola cases in America than in any of the 10 African countries we travel through.

Shanny Hill, marketing manager for Tour d’Afrique

World Africa tourism