(Posted 11th October 2026)
According to the latest World Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals in Africa grew by 4% in the first half of 2026, making Africa the fastest-growing region globally.
This compares with global growth of just 0.4%.
The performance is particularly notable against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, disruption to air routes, higher oil and transportation costs, and continued inflationary pressures. UN Tourism suggests that travellers are increasingly seeking value for money and destinations closer to home. For Africa, this could create further opportunities, particularly in markets that benefit from growing regional connectivity and competitive tourism propositions.
Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa are already contributing strongly to the continent’s momentum. The broader opportunity is how this growth translates into new investment, hotel development and expansion by global and regional hospitality brands.
East Africa is an increasingly important part of this story. With growing tourism demand, emerging destinations, infrastructure investment and increasing interest from international hotel operators and investors, the region has significant potential over the coming years ahead of a massive boost in global attention as East Africa (Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya) will co-host the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournament next year.
These are some of the questions we will be exploring at FHS Africa 2027 in Uganda on 2–3 February at Speke Commonwealth Resort, Kampala:
– Where is hospitality investment heading in Africa?
– Which markets will attract the next wave of capital?
– Where will new hotel development opportunities emerge?
– And how will global hotel brands respond to the continent’s changing investment landscape?
FHS Africa will bring together investors, developers, hotel owners, operators, brands and government leaders to explore these opportunities and the future of hospitality investment across Africa.
Find more information about the FHS Summit 2027 in Kampala / Uganda via https://futurehospitality.com/africa
