Art in Tanzania internship by Dilyara Shantayeva
While the COVID situation worldwide begins to ease, travel agencies are starting to promote the most popular destinations worldwide, including Africa. This article will discuss the most popular destinations for Italian tourists in Africa, as well as the main trends observed.
Concerning Italy, the country continues to maintain its state of emergency, and entry from abroad remains heavily restricted. Complete information is available on the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Entry from most of Europe is allowed in principle. Still, persons arriving from these countries must provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours upon entry, undergo a five-day quarantine, and present another negative test after five days. This regulation runs until mid-May. Then, a national “green vaccination passport” will be introduced to travel freely within the country. Italy is gradually easing restrictions within the country, with a traffic light system in place.
The traffic light system mentioned above is a set of maps published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to provide European travellers with a better overview of COVID-19 infections and possible restrictions. Before going anywhere outside your home country, you must remember to submit a negative PCR COVID test to ensure that you are not a carrier of the disease above. Fortunately, some tour operators offer packages with pre-planned PCR testing, allowing travellers to return safely to their countries.
Morocco is the most visited country in Africa. This Northern African nation saw a whopping 12.3 million visitors in 2019, making it the most visited country on the entire continent. Some of the highlights of Morocco include Marrakesh, one of the world’s most chaotic and charismatic cities. Then, there is Fes, a historic city with so much culture you could spend a week here and not scratch the surface. If you’re taking a tour of the country, consider also stopping by Essaouira. This beautiful beach town has a European feel, with all the rugged charm of Northern Africa.
In 2019, an impressive 11.3 million visitors visited Egypt, making it the second-most-visited country in Africa. Of course, the main drawcards in Egypt are the Egyptian pyramids, the pharaoh’s tombs, and the Luxor Temple, which dates back thousands of years. Egypt is popular not only among European tourists but also among tourists from the CIS countries, due to its comparatively low prices and good transport connectivity.
One of the African destinations with the potential to grow into a vast honeymoon market, not only for Italian couples but also for newlyweds worldwide, is South Africa. Even though there is not much research in this area, the paper by Andrea Giampiccoli from the Durban University of Technology “The Italian tourism market and South Africa: an initial investigation on the potential honeymoon market” starts a discussion about the opportunity arising. According to the researcher, the demand of Italian young couples is met by the supply offered by South African destinations, establishing a popular honeymoon route. The abundance of beach resorts and spa hotels, combined with the availability of so-called “honeymoon packages,” makes South Africa particularly popular. Couples can enjoy leisure and relaxation in South African destinations, as well as many captivating activities that showcase the fascinating beauty of African nature. Adventurous couples can choose from a traditional safari within a private game reserve, white-water rafting through the bush or turtle spotting at a beachfront lodge. Places like Franschhoek in Cape Town, Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, the Garden Route in the Western Cape, and the Elephant Coast in KwaZulu-Natal seem to be the most visited destinations by Italians.
The next prominent destination is Northern Sudan. It is an independent country since July 2011, it has a stable political situation and it is safe to travel, particularly between Khartoum and the Egyptian border. Following its separation from the South, Northern Sudan remains a vast and diverse country. The astonishing landscape of the three deserts, combined with the beauty of the Nile Cataracts, the hidden Nubian villages, and the welcoming people, makes this place an innovative and unexpected destination. Some companies offer tours specifically for Italian people, including tailor-made safaris and escorted tours. Travellers can choose their preferred locations and holiday duration, and the organisers claim that every individual’s demands will be met.
Tunisia is also quite popular because the flow of tourists comes not only from the international airport but also from the cruise ships that dock in the nearby port. Holland America Line, a cruise company, operates several cruise ships that regularly visit Tunis. The tourists can get acquainted with the region’s hospitality and visit the ancient Carthage ruins.
Tanzania is also a very popular destination among Italian tourists. Famous attractions such as Serengeti National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Ngorongoro Crater attract adventurous travellers, while wild and fascinating beaches appeal to connoisseurs of leisure and relaxation.
The next promising tourist attraction for Italians is Zimbabwe. There are many reasons to visit Zimbabwe, but most of them begin with a safari and conclude with a visit to Victoria Falls. This landlocked country in southern Africa remains one of the most popular choices for safari-goers in search of the Big Five. Game viewing in Zimbabwe is second to none, but the Victoria Falls are truly unlike any other. As one of the world’s largest waterfalls, they extend some 1,708 metres in length.
This article outlines several of the most popular destinations for Italian tourism on the African continent, as well as the latest changes resulting from the current pandemic. Each country has its own regulations regarding COVID-19, but most of them should soon be available for vaccinated tourists or for individuals with a PCR test.
