Forecasting the socio-economic and tourism impacts of AFCON 2027 on Tanzania: implications for stakeholder preparedness -A systematic review

Maswet Crescent Masinda

doi:10.51867/ajernet.7.3.100

Authors

Maswet Crescent Masinda National College of Tourism (NCT), Tanzania https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8072-0073

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.7.3.100

Keywords:

AFCON 2027, Tanzania, Tourism Impacts, Socio-economic benefits, Stakeholders Preparedness, Mega-sports events, Pamoja Co-hostiong

Abstract

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 will be jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, presenting a strategic opportunity to stimulate socio-economic growth and tourism development. The aim of this study was to forecast the potential socio-economic and tourism-related effects of AFCON 2027 in Tanzania, and the level of preparedness of key stakeholders in the management of the event. A systematic review of 16 empirical studies published between 2018 and 2025 was conducted. The studies were based on published journal articles, books, and theses which focused on the effects of mega sporting events, AFCON, sports tourism, socio-economic effects, stakeholder preparedness, and the event's legacy. The data was analyzed using thematic content analysis, guided by the Event Impact Theory, Stakeholder Theory, and Sports Tourism Development Theory. The results show that AFCON 2027 is expected to create significant socio-economic spin-offs, such as short-term job creation, income for local enterprises, and capacity-building programs. The event is also expected to positively impact the tourism industry in Tanzania, as it is expected to increase the number of tourist arrivals from other countries, improve hotel occupancy rates, and raise the global profile of the country’s tourism industry. However, the research points out that there could be challenges, such as disparities in the distribution of spin-offs and the lack of human resource capacity in some of the cities that will host the event. The research stresses the need for effective planning, stakeholder engagement, marketing, and legacy creation to ensure that the positive impacts of AFCON 2027 are fully realized.

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