World Bank sees potential for tourism industry in Africa

The World Bank stated (04-May-2011) Africa's rich natural and cultural resources represent a major unexploited endowment through Travel and Tourism, with the potential to generate significant employment, growth and poverty reduction. The region has many advantages on which to build its tourism industry, including price competitiveness, a strong affinity for tourism, and rich natural resources supported by efforts toward environmental sustainability. However, a number of obstacles remain to developing the sector, notably improving safety and security, upgrading health and hygiene levels, developing infrastructure and access to African sites, and fostering the region's human capital. The World Bank also stated that the sub-Saharan African economy would likely increase by 5.1% in 2011.