The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has called for "calm, coordinated and evidence-based responses" following the World Health Organization's declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 May over the Ebola outbreak affecting parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Emphasising that the outbreak remains a localised public health challenge, WTTC said the overall risk to international travellers remains low and cautioned against misinformation or disproportionate responses that could harm destinations across Africa.
Travellers are encouraged to stay informed through trusted official sources and follow destination-specific health guidance on travel to affected areas.
"This situation must be approached with facts, not fear. Ebola remains contained to specific areas, and the risk to international travellers is low,” said Gloria Guevara, president & CEO of WTTC.
Recent developments, including the temporary suspension of some international flights to Uganda due to precautionary travel restrictions, underline how responses not always aligned with actual risk levels can create unnecessary disruption.
Authorities and tourism leaders in the region have stressed that affected areas are limited and that Africa is a diverse continent of 54 countries with very different health systems and tourism realities.
Conflating countries or imposing broad measures can unfairly impact unaffected destinations and communities, potentially harming millions of livelihoods dependent on travel and tourism.
WTTC commends the swift, transparent, and collaborative response from Africa CDC, national governments, the WHO, and international health partners, noting that their leadership provides strong confidence in the management of the situation.
“Today, our sector is far better prepared than ever before. With the right measures, collaboration, and responsible behaviour, travel can continue safely while supporting the communities that rely on it,” Guevara added.