Consuming Africa: The Impact of Tourism on Local African Economies

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the limited developmental impact of tourism on local African economies, arguing that the industry often functions as an extractive force. Using Zanzibar as a primary case study, the author illustrates how foreign ownership, 'enclave tourism', and economic leakages prevent local communities from benefiting from industry growth.

• Despite significant growth in visitor numbers and GDP contribution, tourism in Africa has failed to deliver broad socio-economic development due to heavy reliance on foreign goods and services, which leads to revenue being expatriated.
• The 'enclave tourism' model, characterized by foreign-owned all-inclusive resorts, isolates tourists from local communities and results in only 20-45% of total holiday costs remaining in Africa.
• In Zanzibar, tourism is a pillar of the economy, contributing 27% of GDP and 80% of foreign exchange earnings, yet local employment remains low and skewed toward unskilled labor.
• Zanzibar's tourism sector suffers from severe leakages in sourcing; as of 2016, only 17% of goods and services were locally sourced, with food (15%), beverages (6%), and accommodation (17%) showing low local representation.
• The author attributes the current extractive nature of African tourism to IMF Structural Adjustment Policies (SAPs) from the 1980s, which enforced economic liberalization and prioritized foreign investment over local growth.

APA

Roberts, I. (2023). Consuming Africa: The Impact of Tourism on Local African Economies. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/consuming-africa-the-impact-of-tourism-on-local-african-economies

Chicago

Roberts, Isabella. Consuming Africa: The Impact of Tourism on Local African Economies. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2023. https://afripoli.org/consuming-africa-the-impact-of-tourism-on-local-african-economies.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Roberts |first1=Isabella |title=Consuming Africa: The Impact of Tourism on Local African Economies |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=19 June 2023 |url=https://afripoli.org/consuming-africa-the-impact-of-tourism-on-local-african-economies |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{roberts2023consuming, author = {Roberts, Isabella}, title = {{Consuming Africa: The Impact of Tourism on Local African Economies}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2023}, month = jun, url = {https://afripoli.org/consuming-africa-the-impact-of-tourism-on-local-african-economies}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }