Igor Polyachenko, head of the international cooperation department at the State University of Management, assesses the outlook for tourism development in African nations as modest. This view was reported by Lenta.ru.
He evaluated the appeal and characteristics of major African destinations for travelers from Russia and beyond.
According to Polyachenko, the structure of the continent’s tourism market imposes significant limitations that slow growth.
He noted that any meaningful rise in Russian tourist arrivals is likely to come from Tunisia and Morocco, rather than a broad surge across Africa.
The analyst explained that South Africa would remain an exotic destination for the average Russian traveler, with its own unique appeal and distance realities.
One hurdle identified is the absence of a direct air link between Russia and South Africa, which complicates travel planning.
There was also discussion at the ministry level about easing mutual travel for Russian and Turkish tourists. Alexander Grushko, deputy head of the diplomatic department, stated that a visa-free regime between Russia and Türkiye would require a long process to establish.
Overall, the regions where Russians can travel for leisure continue to be shaped by connectivity, visa policies, and market structure, with Tunisia and Morocco standing out as the most probable growth points in the near term.