African tourism experienced a notable growth in 2025, with major destinations such as Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco recording significant visitor arrivals. Despite persistent barriers regarding Schengen visa access, nations are leveraging infrastructure upgrades, visa-free policies, and increased air connectivity to attract international travelers and boost local economies.
Record-Breaking Arrivals in Egypt and Morocco
Egypt and Morocco have emerged as the continent’s primary tourism engines, both reporting massive surges in international arrivals.
Morocco is mirroring this trajectory. During the first half of 2026, the Kingdom welcomed 7.7 million visitors, a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The sector now accounts for 7.3% of the country’s GDP and supports nearly 900,000 direct jobs.
South Africa’s Visa-Free Shift and Regional Connectivity
South Africa is aggressively expanding its reach by simplifying entry requirements. This follows a strong performance in 2025, where the country reached 10.48 million arrivals.
Angola’s Emergence as a Safari Destination
Once known primarily for its oil reserves, Angola is positioning itself as a new frontier for high-end safari tourism. The country’s transition has been supported by the Halo Trust, which has worked for decades to clear landmines from the region.
“This development shows that our diversification strategy is working: tourism is becoming a mainstay alongside the oil sector. What we are particularly pleased about is not only the growth itself, but also the trust of international investors that is expressed in it – this is the basis on which we are creating jobs and establishing Angola as a travel destination in the long term.”
Márcio Daniel, Tourism Minister of Angola, via ATTA Travel
The results are tangible: ATTA Travel reports that international arrivals to Angola grew by 28% in 2025, reaching 223,140 visitors. With 100% foreign ownership allowed in large parts of the sector, the country expects USD 3 billion in foreign direct investment by 2025.
The Schengen Visa Disconnect
While African destinations report growth, many African travelers face significant challenges when attempting to visit Europe. Nairametrics reports that African applicants face the highest visa rejection rates globally, with a 14.8 percent average refusal rate in 2024. This has resulted in a collective loss of approximately $67.5 million in non-refundable visa fees for African applicants.
Although some industry observers suggest that these barriers are encouraging affluent Africans to travel within the continent, analysts remain cautious about drawing a direct causal link. Regardless of the correlation, the surge in intra-African travel remains a statistical fact, with the continent welcoming 81 million international tourists in 2025, an 8% increase over the previous year.
Commitment to Human Capital
To sustain this momentum, regional leaders are focusing on workforce development. During the 69th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa held in Seychelles, ministers reaffirmed a commitment to strengthening human capital. The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation reported that the conference focused on building a competitive workforce to ensure that the growth in tourism is both inclusive and long-term.
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