ACSA says people travelled less in 2024 owing to worldwide elections
Last year, more than 60 countries took to the polls, accounting for more than four billion people.
Photo: Pixabay/juno1412
JOHANNESBURG - The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) claims the number of elections witnessed across the globe in 2024 contributed to people travelling less.
Last year, more than 60 countries took to the polls, accounting for more than four billion people.
ACSA CEO Mpumi Mpofu said elections always pose a risk to the travel and tourism industry.
“Elections tend to have an impact on whether people travel. If they are uncertain in their own countries about elections, they tend not to travel because they are uncertain about the political stability in their countries, they are uncertain about what the future holds. So, you’d see travel demand and tourism taking a slight dip if there’s an election in a country.”
She said the United States election in November significantly impacted travel.
“This is worse so if those countries having elections are our key tourism source markets. It has an effect and I would hasten to add, we’ve seen this from the US from their elections held in November which had a significant impact on travel demand.”