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Albania, Tanzania, Indonesia, Egypt and El Salvador were named as the emerging economies that have shown the most improvement in promoting travel and tourism development since 2019. Here are some insights.
— Dawit Habtemariam, Sean O’Neill
While the world’s most developed countries continue to dominate the tourism industry, we’re just getting a good snapshot of which emerging markets are reaping the benefits.
The World Economic Forum analyzes the travel and tourism competitiveness of countries around the world every two years, and has just released its 2024 report.
What caught Skift’s eye was how a handful of emerging market countries were ramping up their tourism industries. The World Economic Forum has ranked Albania, Tanzania, Indonesia, Egypt and El Salvador as among the developing countries that have improved the most in enabling travel and tourism development since 2019.
Here are some highlights of each tourism industry that will be in the spotlight in 2023.
1. Albania
WEF’s view: Albania rose 12 places to 66th place in the organization’s Travel and Tourism Development Index. For context, this means that we are better able to promote our white sandy beaches and dramatic mountains, and that our tourism development is roughly on par with the average for all countries.
2. Indonesia
WEF’s view: Indonesia rose 14 places to 22nd place on the organization’s Travel and Tourism Development Index. Leadership: Last year, government officials created the Charismatic Events Nusantara program to boost domestic tourism. The program provided financial support to more than 170 festivals, sports, music and cultural events across the country involving approximately 143,200 artists and event organizers. Officials are also seeking outside investment to help build hotels, golf courses and, especially, hospitals to support medical tourism. He wants to make Lombok an attraction for ecotourism.
3. Egypt
WEF’s view: Egypt has risen five places to 61st place on the WEF’s Travel and Tourism Development Index. Top row: Last year, Egypt achieved her record of 14.9 million tourists. The country’s tourism ministry aims to double that number by 2028. Leader: Egypt will add 14,000 hotel rooms in 2023, reaching a capacity of 220,000 people. In 2024, the country plans to add an additional 25,000 rooms.
4. Tanzania
WEF’s view: Tanzania moves up seven places to 81st in the ranking. Leadership: Travel and tourism revenues are a major source of funding for protecting the country’s landscapes and wildlife, reaching $3.37 billion last year. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan took part in a documentary called “The Royal Tour” to promote tourism investment in the country by outside companies. She took viewers through Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Serengeti. A notable move: This year, investment firm Albwadi announced the creation of the Four Seasons Resort Zanzibar, a 60-villa property set on Pongwe’s white sand beaches and turquoise waters.
5. El Salvador
WEF’s view: El Salvador was the fastest growing country in the Americas on WEF’s Travel and Tourism Development Index. El Salvador moved up four places in the world rankings to 97th. Bottom line: Last year, the Latin American country saw a 43% increase in foreign tourists, supported by a strong tourism industry, contributing to foreign exchange earnings of $3.79 billion, according to Fitch Ratings. Leadership: Ecuador has also benefited from effective crime enforcement by El Salvador’s President Nayib Boucle, described by some as “the world’s coolest dictator.” A growing reputation for safety has strengthened the country’s tourist attractions. A signature move: Earlier this year, the first Hyatt His Centric opened in the capital, San Salvador. The move demonstrated confidence in the country’s future with major hotel groups opening luxury hotels in the country.
The need for a tourism strategy
Sustaining these gains will require a strategic approach from tourism industry leaders, the World Economic Forum warns.
We encourage big-picture thinking and collaboration as today’s most popular destinations grapple with skilled labor shortages, extreme weather events caused by climate change, and other headwinds.
“If these economies wish to do so, they will have much more to offer in areas such as favorable business development, health and working conditions, international openness, information and communication technology, transportation and tourism infrastructure, and the promotion and development of natural and cultural resources. “Significant investment will need to be made in “increasing their share of the travel and tourism market and improving their preparedness for future risks and opportunities,” the report’s authors said.
The full WEF tourism report is available online.
Photo credit: Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
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