Leveraging on Sustainable Tourism for Economic Development in the COMESA Region: Lessons from Low and Middle-income Countries (LMICs)

Tourism has emerged as one of the fastest-growing and most influential economic sectors globally, playing a pivotal role in driving gross domestic product (GDP), generating employment, attracting investment, and facilitating cross-cultural exchange. Globally, the sector contributes an estimated 10.3% to GDP and supports one in every ten jobs. This study explores how sustainable tourism can be harnessed as a catalyst for regional economic integration, resilience, and inclusive development within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Despite tourism’s significant contribution to GDP and employment across many member states, its role in promoting cross-border cooperation remains underexploited, constrained by policy fragmentation, restrictive visa regimes, underdeveloped infrastructure, and limited coordination. Drawing on a systematic literature review (SLR) and comparative analysis of experiences from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Rwanda, Costa Rica, and Vietnam, the study critically synthesises evidence on tourism-led integration and sustainable development. The findings reveal persistent structural barriers to regional tourism integration but also highlight pathways for reform, including visa liberalisation, diversification of tourism products, investment in cross-border infrastructure, and embedding sustainability principles in policy frameworks. A conceptual framework is proposed to guide COMESA’s regional tourism integration strategy, aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063. Practical recommendations are offered for harmonising tourism policies, facilitating mobility, promoting sustainable tourism practices, and enhancing regional cooperation. This research fills a critical gap by positioning sustainable tourism within the regional integration discourse, providing actionable insights for COMESA policymakers, development practitioners, and researchers. It underscores the potential of tourism not only to drive economic growth but also to foster regional solidarity, resilience, and inclusive development in line with continental aspirations.