Africa Is Getting the Shit Beaten Out of It

Let’s not beat around the bush (pun intended? perhaps). Africa, particularly the luxury travel segment, is going to take a significant hit this year.  No one in the industry is doing a dance right now, unless it’s the “please god, let me win the lottery” dance.

First came the disruption to Middle Eastern airlines, then concerns over fuel shortages, and now Ebola. I’m expecting rivers of blood and locusts to show up any day now.  Unfortunately, I left my magic wand at home, so I can’t do much about the first two, although it looks at least like things are moving in the right direction.  But with Ebola, I think education is the tool for the tourism trade to combat the fear.

Africa is often treated as though it’s one single place, rather than a continent of 54 countries.  Someone in Kenya recently told me that they’d never been to the US, so they had no real sense of its size.  That made me realise the same is true for many Americans when it comes to Africa – and the majority of high-end travellers come from the US.

So, here you go.  A map that illustrates and scale of Africa (roughly 3.75 times larger than the United States) and the outbreak.

I just came back from Kenya.  Next week, I am in Tanzania (great migration: yay).  In August I’m in Mauritius, Mozambique and South Africa with my family.  And I have zero concern.  May these words not come back and haunt me.