Tourism is one of Africa’s fastest-growing sectors and is often described as a “double-edged sword”. While it can create jobs, improve infrastructure and preserve culture, it can also lead to challenges such as cultural erosion, income leakages and environmental degradation.

Using relevant African examples, critically discuss how sustainable tourism development can mitigate the negative impacts of tourism while enhancing its positive impacts.

Include all three dimensions of sustainable tourism in your answer. These dimensions are as follows:

1. Economic dimension. Examples include creating local jobs in lodges and game reserves, reducing revenue leakages from foreign-owned businesses and addressing inequality through community-based tourism.
2. Environmental dimension. Examples include conserving wildlife in national parks, mitigating climate change in coastal areas and managing tourism carrying capacity in nature reserves.
3. Sociocultural dimension. Examples include preserving African cultural heritage, valuing indigenous knowledge systems, ensuring community participation in decision-making and avoiding cultural commodification.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Write your answer in essay format with an introduction, body and conclusion.
• Use subheadings for clarity (e.g., Economic dimension, Environmental dimension, Sociocultural dimension).
• Avoid merely listing points; provide a critical discussion supported by relevant examples.

• Introduction reflecting your understanding of sustainable tourism: 3 marks
• Economic dimension: impacts, mitigation and examples: 7 marks
• Environmental dimension: impacts, mitigation and examples: 7 marks
• Sociocultural dimension: impacts, mitigation and examples: 7 marks
• Conclusion: integration of ideas and forward-looking insights: 1 mark