A few months after the start of covid-19 in 2020, Kenya's beaches seem to be disappearing. According to WFP, the tourism sector is practically at a standstill. Indeed, it estimates that travel restrictions and lockdown measures dealt a devastating blow to Kenya's economy.

In West Africa, the hotel group Azalaï nearly closed its establishments at the height of the covid-19 pandemic. Most hotels in the chain in the region have since reopened. But more than half of the rooms are still unoccupied.

"I still fear a very difficult year in 2021. Vaccination will certainly restore confidence to travelers, but I don't think people will travel much this year. The real recovery will begin in 2022," says Mossadeck Bally, founder and CEO of the hotel group.

Over the past 20 years, tourism has become a vital sector for African economies. In 2019, it represented approximately 7% of GDP and contributed 169 billion dollars to the continent's economy. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the tourism sector employed more than 24 million people in Africa in 2019.

But coronavirus triggered an unprecedented crisis for this industry. In July 2020, the African Union estimated that the continent had lost nearly 55 billion dollars from travel and tourism.

With its 9 hotels in six West African countries, the Azalaï group knows firsthand the painful effects. To survive, it had to lay off staff and reduce salaries.

"The impact was very strong. Our sector collapsed because we had to stop everything overnight. We are on the front lines, so we were affected before the rest of the economy," Mossadeck Bally recalls.

Apart from the large hotel in Bamako, Mali's capital, all other group establishments have resumed operations. But with reduced teams, salary cuts, and a freeze on hiring. Occupancy rates range from 5% in Guinea-Bissau to 40% in Côte d'Ivoire, still well below normal levels.

By Chris Golden Irambona