Air transportation in Africa and continued demand for Chinese outbound travel will be among the major aviation industry issues in 2015, according to U.K.-based OAG.
OAG is a business that provides aviation information and analysis. Its report, “What is shaping air travel in 2015?” was featured in FinancialExpress.
Despite Ebola, strong growth was recorded in African aviation in 2014, OAG reported. Ten countries grew their international capacity by more than 10 percent, the report said. In the 12 months leading to September 2014, 28 out of 59 African countries experienced growth from China exceeding 60 percent.
In the countries hit hardest by Ebola, the outlook is bleak, OAG reported. January 2015 seat capacity to and from Liberia is down 81 percent, Sierra Leone is down 75 percent, and Guinea is down 39 percent compared to January 2014.
“In 2015, we expect continued growth to and from Africa, and the China-Africa market will be one to watch,” the report said. “By 2034, eight of the 10 fastest growing markets globally will be in Africa.
Tourism entrepreneur Cherae Robinson is founder and CEO of Rare Customs, a tourism consulting and marketing firm specializing in market development and travel in Africa. Her company connects small and medium enterprises to emerging African tourism and investment trends.
U.S. investors have been hesitant to invest in African travel because of the Ebola crisis, “which we know is short-sighted but it’s been an obstacle,” Robinson said in a report in VenturesAfrica. She counts this among the biggest challenges she faced starting up the company.
Robinson was listed as one of Forbes‘ 10 emerging women entrepreneurs to watch in Africa. What future does she see for tourism in Africa?
“The industry will continue to diversify and grow as perception continues to shift,” Robinson said. “The Ebola crisis will soon be a blip on the radar in terms of what it means for the industry’s long-term trajectory.”
In 2015, smart brands will welcome African tourists and cater to African tourists, according to Trendwatching. The continent will continue to become an attractive travel destination for Africans.
Vacationing in Africa will no longer be only about safari-beach-loving foreigners, Trendwatching reports. African tourism industry has already begun catering to local tourists. For example, after stagnant growth, the Mauritian government boosted tourism by relaxing visa requirements for more than 30 African countries, African Development Bank reported in 2013.
“In 2015, expect travel operators to begin innovating to attract and delight other Africans in search of leisure,” Trendwatching reports.
