Africa ‘Lost $50bn In Tourism Money Because Of Virus’ – African Union

The African Union is warning that the coronavirus pandemic is having a devastating effect on Africa’s tourism industry.

It says more than $50bn [£40bn] in revenue was lost to the continent in just three months, and some airlines may not survive.

AU commissioner Amani Abou-Zeid told an online news conference with the World Health Organization that tourism was a key sector and was being badly hit.

“We’re talking here about almost 10 percent of the GDP of Africa comes from tourism and of course air travel is related to that.

“But also we have 24 million Africans, which means 24 million African families whose livelihood is linked to travel and tourism.

“So the impact is really severe and some estimates we’re talking here about almost $55bn lost within three months.”

Meanwhile, Kenya reduces park entry fees to cushion the tourism industry

The tourism industry in the country has been affected by the pandemic

Kenya has reduced national park entry fees for Kenyan and international visitors to help rescue the tourism industry from the impact of measures taken to curb the coronavirus pandemic.

Lodges inside the parks have also been given a year’s moratorium from paying rent.

Filmmakers have also been given a 50% discount on filming fees charged in parks.

Tourism Minister Najib Balala urged the lodges to use the rent holiday to improve services.

…As a resort of COVID-19 too, Gabon also bars EU travellers in a reciprocal move

Gabon has suspended issuing visas to European Union travellers after its citizens were included in the EU ban list.

Gabonese foreign affairs ministry said it had applied the “the principle of reciprocity”.

The nationals of the 27 EU member states will not be allowed into Gabon.

Minister Alain Claude Bilie By Nzé sent a circular to diplomatic missions communicating the change in issuance of visas:

Gabon has recorded 5,394 cases of coronavirus and 42 deaths.

The EU listed only 14 safe countries whose nationals were allowed into member states as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Included on the list are four African countries: Algeria, Morocco, Rwanda, and Tunisia.

…Meanwhile, Egypt has reopened major tourist attractions including the Great Pyramids of Giza after a three-month closure.

The pyramids were the country’s first tourist attraction to reopen, along with the Egyptian Museum next to Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

The country closed its airports to scheduled international flights and shut famous historical sites in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It has now restarted international flights.

Egypt’s tourism industry, which accounts for a fifth of GDP and employs some three million people, has suffered a big blow from the coronavirus closures.

On the first day after reopening, only a few visitors were spotted at the normally packed site of Giza.

“It’s a pretty place, this is where we see the symbol of Egypt and this is why we come here,” tourist Ravalonandrasana Maurice told Reuters.

Authorities are now hoping holidaymakers will fly to the sites after the lifting of travel restrictions.

Egypt has recorded more than 68,000 cases and nearly 3,000 deaths from coronavirus.

By Our Correspondent