50,000,000 Number of African Tourists Last Year Hit Record

Mandarin Translation of the Week

According to World Tourism Organization statistics, in 2012, the number of tourists in Africa went up 6% from 2011, reaching 50 million and hitting the previous record.  Tourism revenue reached to 34 billion dollars, which was about 3% of total world tourist revenue.  Choosing to go to Sub-Saharan African countries increased 5% compared to the previous year.

本报讯 记者黄炎光报道：根据世界旅游组织统计，2012年赴非洲旅游人数比2011年增加了6%，达到5000万，创下历史新高。旅游收入340亿美元，约占世界旅游总收入的3%。选择撒哈拉以南非洲国家作为旅游目的地的游客也比往年增加了5%。

This article has been translated from Mandarin. Click here to read the original version on China.com.cn.

The World Tourism Organization states although Egypt tourism was affected by the current political situation that the number of tourists have declined, it is still the hottest travel spot in African continent; in 2012, number of tourists in Egypt have reached 11.2 million.  According to other statistics, South Africa is still one of the hottest destination for travelers, total tourists reached 9 million, increased 10%.  Other African countries tourism have also increased, Cameroon grew 35%, Tanzania grew 24%, Sierra Leone and Madagascar respectively grew 14%, and Cape Verde grew 13%.

Article translated by Yixian Fan, Scholar Intern for the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States at the Wilson Center.

Photo Attributed to Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve.