Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Tourism and Hospitality Industry in the EAC and Post Recovery Strategy for the Sector
Date
2021-09-30
Authors
Muoki, D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Economic Research Consortium
Abstract
Tourism is one of the largest foreign exchange earners and fastest-growing
sectors in the East African Community (EAC). According to the EAC Secretariat,
tourist arrivals in the EAC region increased from 3.5 million persons in 2006 to
about 7 million in 2019. Tourism contributed to the Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) of the EAC Partner States by an average of 9.5% in 2019. It contributed an
average of 17.2% to EAC total exports and 7.1% to employment. However, the
upward trajectory in tourism in the region was devastatingly affected by the
onset of COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.