tpia.:
because they ran away from poverty and dont want to run back to it


or be reminded of it

morpheus24: Europeans spend their time traveling their continent which keeps the currency within their region, creates different culturela awareness, helps create a tourist industry and promotes jobs,

The Americans are the same way and would tavel more within the US that say taking a trip to South Africa.

Why don't we a Africans promote tourism more within our borders and keep the currency within these borders.

I mean theres lots of tourist destinations within the continent

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7510&edition=2&ttl=20100215163807

Afam4eva:
It's an Informational and timeless thread. So, the age shouldn't matter.

morpheus24:

Don't think so

The real reason is Africans see european destinations as desirable because they are programmed to believe these are the best destinations to go to.

I mean I am not saying one should spend every waking moment in Africa but put it on the table as a possibel destination.

the dirtiness that is nigeria (ongoing thread in politics section, opened by a nigerian):

https://www.nairaland.com/1272973/dirtiness-nigeria

kenya thread: (ongoing thread since 2007, no single picture of any rubbish dump in kenya, which coincidentally, has non-black native populations)

https://www.nairaland.com/51356/nairobi-photos-kenya-beautiful-east

Venchy:

Very true, more so there's attractive to them after many years in Africa. ....that's the secret behind not going on holiday, security & other infrastructure that will enable you to have a comfortable holiday is a doubt...especially in Nigeria, our leaders have no clue what they are loosing in the world of tourism......Loooool.

malaika: Nice post Morpheus I'm passionate about travel within Africa, there's so much to see and learn and rich culture all over Africa. I also like the fact that I can blend in and not stand out

Money and perceptions are an issue, but I get your point about Africans being willing to spend money going to Europe/US. I noticed that flights are quite expensive within the continent, even more than travelling to Europe sometimes. I went on holiday to Morocco some time ago and had to fly via Spain first because direct flight from SA to Morocco with SAA was ridiculously priced. Also been to Ghana, and I drive to Victoria Falls anytime I please plus I live in a tourist destination country and take full advantage of that, the best safari lodges and beaches (ok I'm biased here ) are at my doorstep. I know some SA-hater on NL will soon tell me about our crime and how many SAns can afford such holidays but I'm talking about myself and I'm not rich just a normal working person who has to budget for a holiday.

My dream African holiday - 4x4 drive through West Africa, starting Cameroon - Nigeria - Benin - Togo - Ghana - B.Faso - Mali (Timbuktu, Djenne all that history) ending in Senegal (Goree Island etc) now that would be great and it will happen!! Africa Rocks!!

AjanleKoko:

Studio 53 on MNet features African tourist destinations. Most of the people in Africa who can afford travel watch Mnet anyway.

londoner: OP, the same reason why they wont "buy African" in general. They feel anything outside is automatically better. Going abroad outside Africa for a holiday is seen as a status symbol and they see western countries and western people in that light. I do think its a West African thing though. If you speak to other Africans they tend to travel a bit more in their region.

Africans/Nigerians tend to travel for status/business or family. People of other cultures travel for pleasure/ exposure and personal education/growth.

bandiejay: what is there in africa to look? The Asorock? lagos Ibadan express road? kai? lastman? police taking 20naira? bar beach? may be am making a mistake somebody should explain futher what is there to look or may be Jos where hausa man will cut your head for suya

beneli:

I think Dis Guy has a point here! Another point, i guess, is that people don't actually know what we have in our back yard. We are not very good at selling our tourist attractions so it doesn't really sound cool to say you spent your holiday in Ouagadougou. Coming back from Paris sounds a lot cooler!

But, honestly though, we need to begin exploring our backyards. There are a lot of interesting experiences that could be had, if one isn't too taken to the whole luxury thing. I did a land (and rail) journey across West Africa once. It took me through Benin, Togo and then Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal and then ending up in Gambia.  I had wanted to follow the trail of the river Niger and had fantasies of going up to it's source (they say it starts in the Futta Djallon mountains somewhere between Senegal and Gambia). Unfortunately, it wasn't all pleasant. There was a lot of unsavoury encounters with immigration officials that wanted to be 'bribed' in order to let me through, even though i held an ECOWAS passport; emotionally draining encounters with young Nigerians enroute to a place they called Las Palmas, from where they planned to eventually enter Europe and sob stories from the half-crazed bunch stranded in places with names like Tambacounda, after they had been repatriated from Europe and were now feeling too ashamed to make the journey homewards. There was also the whole getting to experience first hand what our cousins in ECOWAS think of us-they don't think very highly of us because of the reputation we have for fraud, drug dealing etc.

In spite of the negatives, it was still an experience richer than i have ever had visiting the concrete jungles of New York, Berlin or Moscow; or even visiting half forgotten Orthodox churches clustering around the black sea in eastern europe and middle Asia. I will make that West Africa journey again one day. This time i will ferry up to Cape Verde for the 'Latin America' experience it supposedly offers in our backyard.

Africans don't spend their holidays more in Africa because a lot of us don't know that, in spite of her troubles, Africa is still the most naturally beautiful continent.  I don't mind being called prejudiced for the bolded part of my statement-not at all!

Stalemate: @op.. The truth is that some countries in Africa that attracts tourism are one way or the order a zone of doom... Lets take Nigeria as a paradigm. Imagine yourself thinking of travelling to NORTH. I think that can only be possible when you think that you're an article of no commercial value to your family nd your well wishers. Why? Its b'cos THE BOKO~BOYZ are on the alert to send your innocent soul to the great beyund. And IT WILL NEVER BE YOUR PORTION. Think of going to south~east, definately you're preparing your family 4 dinner nd a hexagona table dilague with d ruthless 'man~naperz' also, in the south west, some ugly phenonmenon lyk the gentle men on d high way who are ready to compel you to surrenda your lyf of your money. Moving outsyd 9ja, some tourist that went to explore countries lyk LYBIA,IVORY COAST,EGYPT e.t.c some years back, they were caught unaware by d unrest dat sent many soul 4 exploration in d great beyund. So, tell me, why wouldn't they prefer other continents to Africa? Remember, your topic centres on holiday. I think holiday is to be accomplined by peace and not chaos... 4 me, going to continents lyk europe,america e.t.c wil certainly top my priorty list if am to travel 4 a holiday.

morpheus24:

You obviously haven't been to many Safaris

As far as shopping is concerned. thats the major problem. How can a holiday be necessarily about shopping. I am guessing thats what relaxes the average African. The ability to buy goodies and return back home.

don't you think the issue is with perception and don't you think this should change.

kadman:

How did you draw the above conclusion up ? I'm at a Uni in UK. .  And all my exposed European and British friends have travelled to Africa / Middle East, they wouldn't even take anyone who hasn't been to North,Cental and South America seriously. This coming summer they are all hecking us that they want to visit Nigeria, I've told my friends that my hand no dey that one o

souldust: camerooon is not west africa