Ecotourism

Abstract

Tourism is a US$3.4 trillion a year global industry and, according to the World Tourism Organisation, the industry is expanding at 4 percent every year, the fastest growing industry in the world. In 1994, Africa as a whole accounted for only US$6.3 billion worth of tourist receipts, most of which was spent in North Africa. Southern Africa is currently attempting to gain a greater share of these tourist receipts and is trying to foster inter-regional tourism through such newly formed organisations as the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA). A key aim of this organisation is to encourage inter-regional marketing packages to increase the volume of tourist receipts in the region. Such marketing networks are the first step towards creating packaged mass tourism.