Egypt and Morocco Lead Hotel Development in Africa
Egypt and Morocco have emerged as the leading African countries in terms of hotel room development pipelines, as revealed by a recent report. The study, conducted by the W Hospitality Group in collaboration with the African Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF), highlighted the significant progress made by these two nations.
Egypt currently boasts an impressive pipeline of 85 hotels, with a total of 21,281 rooms. Among these hotels, 28.9 percent are under construction, indicating substantial growth and development in the country’s hospitality sector.
Morocco follows closely behind Egypt, with 50 hotels in its development pipeline, comprising 7,209 rooms. An impressive 77.4 percent of these hotels are currently under construction, demonstrating Morocco’s commitment to enhancing its tourism infrastructure.
Apart from Egypt and Morocco, other North African countries have also made significant strides in hotel construction. Algeria ranks seventh, with 15 hotels under construction, while Tunisia secures the eighth spot with 14 hotels currently being developed.
READ: Marriott and Egypt Lead Hotel Development in Africa
Completing the list of the top 10 countries for hotel development in Africa are Ethiopia, Cape Verde, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Senegal. These nations showcase their dedication to fostering tourism and attracting visitors.
Mixed Trends in Sub-Saharan Africa
While the overall hotel development across the continent remains promising, the report highlights a decline in construction activity in sub-Saharan Africa. Countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa have witnessed a reduction in planned hotel rooms. However, Cape Verde has experienced an increase in its number of planned hotel rooms, indicating its growing popularity as a tourist destination.
Key Players Of Hotel Development in Africa
Among the major players of hotel development in Africa, French hotel chain Accor leads the pack with 107 planned hotels. Following closely behind is Marriott International, with 103 hotels in the pipeline. These companies demonstrate their confidence in Africa’s hospitality sector and contribute to its future growth.
Matthew Weihs, the Managing Director of The Bench, which organizes the AHIF, emphasized the resilience of investor confidence in the hospitality industry, despite the challenging period caused by the pandemic. He noted that the pandemic has not deterred the most astute financiers, who view it as an opportunity. Governments like Morocco, which have made significant investments in infrastructure to incentivize tourism, have further bolstered investor confidence.
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