African tourism is boosted by Obama and the World Cup
African tourism is boosted by Obama and the World Cup
The 2008 election of US president, Barack Obama and the upcoming World Cup in South Africa are boosting tourism in Africa, according to industry experts. The US president, who has African roots, has made Africa appealing for travellers from major generating markets, says the UN World Tourism Organizaton.
Obama's heritage from Kenya has made Kenya a source of interest as many African-Americans are travelling to Obama's ancestral village of Kogelo where his grandmother still lives, official sources say. Kenyan agencies are also offering Obama packages such as 'the President Obama Africa Roots Tour' for people to visit his ancestral home. The more than 2000 genealogy companies in the US have gained popularity as African Americans wish to trace their ancestral origins in order to visit their personal land of heritage in Africa.
And tourism will continue to thrive as these heritage seekers will be succeeded by the 450,000 football fans that are reported to turn up in South Africa for the World Cup in June. Although Africa was the only continent to record rises in tourism in 2009 to 5 million, official sources wish to push tourism numbers to over 10 million a year.
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