Africa Geographic May 2007 [antikvár]

founder's note ^^ already tourism equals and in some instances outstrips the returns from other sectors such as mining and agriculture In a recent editorial 1 reported with some alarm that it was the South African government's intention to 'remove all obstacles to investment in the mining sector'. Such statements have a ring of foreboding about them, given that the country already ranks with the worst polluting countries in the worid. Are we setting ourselves up as the China of Africa? It seems like a reasonable question to me. But the mere posing of it is likely to be interpreted as the beginning of a tirade against growth and development, so let me state unequivocally that I am all for economic prosperity that filters down to the greatest number of people and as long as its environmental impact is mitigated to the greatest possible extent. If concerns over environmental health are to play second fiddle to economic growth, there seems to be a confusion brewing in the conidors of government for, at the end of March this year, the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism proudly, and with just cause, announced that some 8.4 million tourists had visited the country in 2006, that this increase of nearly 14 per cent over the previous year represented a 'resounding success for South Africa's tourism marketing' and that even greater things were to follow. A resounding success indeed, but we should be careful not to be too self-congratulatory as the majority of these cross-border arrivals came from neighbouring countries (nearly two million from Lesotho alone). And while 1 would never dispute the economic importance of these visits, predominantly to seek work and trade, they hardly represent tourism in the sense of travelling to a destination with the prime purpose of enjoying a holiday. If we examine the statistics more closely, some two million visitors are long-haul arrivals from overseas. Many of these travellers are also more intent on business than relaxation, but a significant percentage will combine business and pleasure or be focused entirely on that 'safari of a lifetime'. That this represents but the tip of the iceberg in terms of opportunity is manifest in the fact that currently only somewhere between two and four per cent of world tourism spend finds its way into Africa. Yet, already tourism equals and in some instances outstrips the returns from other sectors such as mining and agriculture. So, while African economies need balance, it would seem foolish to compromise tourism in the process. Some economic sectors - mining and the oil industry, for example - can flourish in appalling environmental and social conditions. Sadly, they often go hand-in-hand with corrupt states with less than ideal human rights records. Tourism cannot thrive in such circumstances as, in almost all its shapes and forms, it is predicated on and feeds off a healthy environment which includes a populace free from the daily threat of ill health, food insecurity, violence and corruption. While some countries such as South Africa are demonstrably better than others, on a pan-African scale 1 wonder if national leaders and their governments will ever be able to understand that the social ills that underiie much of African society are the greatest inhibitors to the most powerful economic opportunity open to them; tourism. It angers me to conclude that they probably do understand, but don't really care, and that all that really matters to them is to strut ridiculously on the stage of opulent living while the social fabric of ordinary people disintegrates around them. About our magazine Africa Geographic is editorially and financially independent. It enjoys the support and endorsement of several non-government organisations, but it is not affiliated in any way to these bodies or to any other publishing, environmental or political interest group. Africa Geographic strives to foster an awareness oi wildlife, consen/ation, eco-travel, indigenous cultures and the general environment. It consistently advocates the wisest use of natural resources in a manner that involves and is of real benefit to the people of Africa. Africa Geographic is published 11 limes a year.