SYPALA: Africa’s tourism problem is access, not attractions – Princess Umul Ibrahim Mahama

‎By: Godbless Asaana‎
‎Tourism Growth and Destination Development Advisor, Princess Umul Hatiyya Ibrahim, said, Africa’s relatively small share of global tourism is not primarily due to a lack of attractions but poor accessibility, infrastructure and mobility.
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‎Speaking at the Students and Young Professionals African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) 2026, on August 26, Where she had a conversation on “Infrastructure, Roads and Access: The Missing Link in Africa’s Tourism Economy.”
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‎SYPALA, which stands for the Students and Young Professionals African Liberty Academy, is an annual educational program run by the IMANI Center for Policy and Education.
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‎Princess Umul Hatiyya Ibrahim Mahama argued that African countries possess significant tourism resources but struggle to convert these assets into commercially viable tourism products that can attract large numbers of international visitors.
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‎She said the continent’s tourism potential includes historical attractions, forest reserves, diverse cultures, music, food, festivals, wildlife, coastlines, national parks and favourable weather.
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‎“Africa certainly does not have a tourism demand problem as much as it has an access and mobility problem,” she said.
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‎According to her, the number of attractions available in a country does not automatically translate into increased tourist arrivals, citing Kenya as an example.
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‎She noted that although Kenya has numerous tourism sites and significant tourism potential, it receives fewer than three million international tourists, highlighting the importance of accessibility and destination development.
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‎Princess Umul Hatiyya explained that there is a fundamental difference between a tourism asset and a tourism product.
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‎She described a tourism asset as something naturally or historically existing in a particular location, such as a waterfall, mountain, forest or historical site.
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‎“A tourism asset is raw,” she explained, adding that an attraction only becomes a tourism product when it is developed and commercialised through infrastructure and services that improve the visitor experience.
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‎She said infrastructure such as roads, washrooms and other facilities can determine whether tourists are willing to visit an attraction, stay longer and recommend it to others.
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‎She argued that attractions located in difficult to reach areas without supporting infrastructure were unlikely to generate significant tourism revenue.
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‎Princess Umul Hatiyya contrasted Ghana’s situation with Cambodia, where Angkor Wat, a major tourist attraction, attracted about 2.5 million visitors before the COVID-19 pandemic, had more visitors than Ghana received in total during the period she referenced.
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‎She attributed Cambodia’s tourism performance partly to affordability and accessibility, noting that the country also caters to different categories of travellers.
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‎Sharing her personal travel experience, she said she had stayed in a Cambodian hostel for about US$8 per night, allowing her to reduce accommodation costs while travelling.
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‎She said affordable accommodation was an important factor in making destinations attractive to international tourists, particularly younger and budget-conscious travellers.
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‎Princess Umul Hatiyya also drew attention to Ghana’s Ankasa Forest Reserve in the Western Region, describing it as one of the most unique destinations she had visited.
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‎However, she questioned the ability of tourists to access such attractions when basic road infrastructure remains inadequate.
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‎Princess Umul Hatiyya said the situation raises a critical question about whether Ghana and other African countries are doing enough to transform their tourism assets into accessible, competitive and sustainable products.
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‎Her presentation, titled “Infrastructure, Roads and Access: The Missing Link in Africa’s Tourism Economy,” focused on how investment in infrastructure, accessibility and destination strategy could increase visitor numbers, extend tourist stays, boost tourism spending and strengthen local economies.
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‎She encouraged stakeholders to look beyond Africa’s abundance of attractions and focus on creating destinations that are accessible, competitive and capable of generating sustainable economic opportunities.