Every World Tourism Day arrives with the same headline numbers: arrivals up, occupancy up, spend up, growth confirmed. Nobody serious about tourism would dispute that those figures matter. They tell us about the scale of the sector, its reach, its recovery, its momentum. What they don’t tell us is whether the place itself is any…
As the world marks Tourism Week, an island nation that lives on tourism asks whether the pandemic prepared it for conflict in the skies. This piece by Shelda Commettant offers a timely, essential lens on what it means to be a tourism-dependent destination in an unstable world. Victoria, Seychelles — In March 2026, nothing had…
World Tourism Day 2026 asked how AI will redesign travel. In Nigeria, the more urgent question is about rethinking the future of tourism in the country — how do we make visible the experiences that already exist? Every year on September 27, the world pauses to reflect on tourism — not simply as an industry…
Zimbabwe is widely celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes — Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, the Eastern Highlands, and the Zambezi Valley. These places have long defined the country’s tourism identity. Yet beneath this familiar story lies another powerful and underused resource: Zimbabwe’s living cultures. Recent reflections inspired by the Budula Festival in Mahlangleli, Boli (Chiredzi…
It is no secret that the central region of Africa is far behind the other regions with regards to tourism. However, while others see obstacles, some see opportunities. Meet Agatha Iyok, the amiable CEO of Flora Travel and Tours based in Limbe and organizer of the Cameroon International Tourism Fair. Discipline, dedicated and determined, Agatha…
Heritage tourism has emerged as one of the most transformative tools for cultural preservation in Africa. Beyond the leisure of sightseeing, it offers travelers an opportunity to engage with the continent’s living histories—its traditions, crafts, festivals, and collective memory. In recent years, African destinations have recognized a crucial truth: heritage is not merely something to be…
Who is Cathryn? Tell us a bit about yourself. I’m Cathryn Karanja, founder of Gatura Greens. I grew up between Nairobi and Kisumu, and I think that has shaped a lot of who I am. I’ve always loved nature, hosting people, and creating experiences. I studied Economics and Gender Studies, then worked in Fast Moving…
Over a week after 22 baby gorillas were named in Kinigi, the applause has faded and the numbers are worth sitting with. The ceremony did what it does best. The harder story it carried was about space, money and 547 households. Over one week on from Kinigi, the honest verdict on the 21st Kwita Izina…
As global travel rebounds to historic highs, iconic destinations worldwide are facing a quiet crisis: overtourism. From the crowded beaches of Mediterranean coasts to congested safari corridors, the pressure of mass tourism threatens the very landscapes and cultures travelers come to see. However, Africa holds a unique, home-grown solution. It lies not in building bigger hotels,…
There is something about traveling through southeastern Nigeria in June or July that reminds you the country is most beautiful when it is unhurried. Last weekend, as I journeyed through Anambra State towards Delta for a family wedding, the rain seemed determined to travel with us. It arrived without warning, drumming steadily against the windshield…
