This is a re-posting of an interesting article I came across … enjoy

Tourism To Boost State Economy

South Sudan Wildlife Conservation Ministry is laying strategies to develop a vibrant tourism industry to improve the economy.

05 October 2013

A potential tourism area in Katire mountain zone. Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa made $36 billion last year from tourism, the World Bank has said. [Peter Lokale Nakimangole]

By Peter Lokale Nakimangole

TORIT, 04 October 2013 [Gurtong] –The Eastern Equatoria State Local Government, Law Enforcement and Wildlife Conservation Minister Charles Lokonoi Ambrose vows to improve the sector with prime objective to boost economy especially in protected areas of wildlife conservation and tourism as key target to realize sightseeing attractions of wildlife both flora and fauna in the state.

The Minister has vowed to revive the tourism sector with an aim to enhance economic growth and create new employment opportunities to the state citizens especially young and potential graduates.

In a related development, the World Bank has released a report stating that Sub Saharan Africa’s tourism industry is set to spur more economic growth for the continent and directly employ 6.7 million people by 2021.

The report under its heading ‘Tourism in Africa: Harnessing Tourism for Growth and Improved Livelihoods’, says that tourism accounted directly or indirectly for one in every 20 jobs in Sub Saharan Africa in 2011, and is one of the few industries on the continent in which women are well represented as employees and managers. Sub Saharan Africa is outpacing other regions in tourism growth.

The report examines the potential of African countries to improve and expand their tourism sector, and suggests that 33 of Sub Saharan Africa’s 48countries currently have the capacity for tourism success through establishing strong political support for developing the industry and attracting increased private investment to help finance and sustain it.

The report cites successful examples of countries including Cape Verde, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and others, who have simplified their tourism policies, liberalized air transport and diversified tourism while protecting their communities and environments, which created a positive investment climate for tourism development.

“Africa’s private companies are increasingly attracting regional and international investment and the returns on investing in Africa are among the highest in the world,” says Makhtar Diop, World Bank Vice President for Africa. In close alliance with the private sector, governments must also do their part to create better transport, electricity, infrastructure, and other key services to develop tourism for more broad-based growth and improved livelihoods.

Tourism is increasingly attracting regional and international investment, and returns on investments in the sector remain among the highest in the world. Global hotel chains are expanding across Africa, recognizing investment potential and committing millions of dollars in new projects over the next few years to meet increased demand from both international tourists and the continent’s own fast-growing middle class.

In 2012, Africa attracted 33.8 million visitors, up from a low 6.7 million visitors in 1990, and its receipts from tourism for the same year amounted to over US$36 billion, or 2.8 percent of the region’s GDP.

In 2011, global tourism contributed 9.1 percent to world GDP, 5.9 percent of worldwide exports and 4.5 percent of global investment. Africa’s tourism revenues are rising fast and are set to contribute more and more to world activity.

If developed effectively and managed efficiently over time, tourism has the potential to accelerate Africa’s economic growth and job creation. It can also help accelerate the reforms needed to improve airline and road transport as well as other key infrastructure, besides raising the incomes of young men and women, who form a high percentage of the job holders in the sector.

“For African countries looking to sustain and increase growth, tourism can be harnessed through joint public and private sector efforts to achieve growth, wealth creation and shared prosperity,” says Gaiv Tata, Director of Financial and Private Sector Development for the World Bank in Africawhose department prepared the study.

This report is the first to comprehensively examine tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa at a regional level and to recommend practical evidence-based measures that could create an economic transformation by leveraging the tourism industry to help create jobs, stem poverty and diversify economies.

With an analysis of 24 tourism case studies from around the world, the report is a valuable and timely contribution to efforts to build a framework for sustainable tourism in Africa. It also identifies policies and institutional approaches for African countries to make their tourism industry more competitive and attractive to investors.

“Although Africa’s tourism potential has largely gone untapped to date, it can now take steps to close the gap with other regions,” says Hannah Messerli, co-author of the report and Senior Private Sector Development Specialist in the World Bank’s Africa Region. She adds: “Given the continent’s abundant natural and cultural resources, as well as business activity, the fundamentals are in place for tourism growth. Using the strategies and examples presented in this report, Africa can claim its fair share of world tourism.”