photo by: Sweet Senegal

Situated in the westernmost part of Africa as stated in the previous newsletter about Senegal, Senegal is bordered by Mauritania, Mali, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. It is surrounded by the Gambia, an English-speaking country with one of the smallest land areas on the continent. Senegal has a tropical, dry climate and a population of 15.4 million, a quarter of which lives in the region of the capital, Dakar, on 0.3% of the territory.The country is one of the most popular tourist destinations in West Africa, which is home to Dakar and Saint Louis, two dynamic cultural hubs.In Senegal,Tourism has grown from a small industry in the 1970s, when the first Club Med resort opened, to a significant part of the Senegalese economy today. Since the 1990s, Senegal has worked to expand its tourism base beyond former colonial power France, attracting visitors from Spain, the United Kingdom, and Italy, in part inspired by the neighboring Gambia, which attracts a higher proportion of visitors from Northern Europe and the Americas to its Banjul beach resorts. Senegal welcomed one million foreign tourists in 2008, attracted by luxury beach resorts, natural and historic sites. Senegal has a diverse range of excellent natural and cultural tourism assets. A variety of birds, access to big game fishing and scuba diving, and some wildlife are among its natural assets. Its cultural assets include its people, music, arts, and handicrafts, all of which provide opportunities for tourism diversification and expansion. The country's appeal is boosted by its proximity to Europe and warm climate during Europe's winter months, as well as the benefit of no jet lag on a north-south route. In 2008, the visitor return rate was estimated to be around 30%. The government's goal is to place Senegal among the top five African tourist destinations by 2023, with 3 million tourists per year. To maintain a sustained level of growth (7 percent) and a healthy economy, the authorities are focusing more than ever on tourism in Senegal (10 percent of GDP and 9 percent of total employment).

The economy has grown at a rate of over 6.5 percent per year for the past four years, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years. The government is planning to launch "a call for investment in about ten major tourism sites," according to the Minister of Tourism. The megalithic circles of Senegambia (South), the African Renaissance Monument, and the brand-new Museum of Black Civilizations in Dakar are just a few examples.

Lake RETBA of Senegal. Photo by: lac rose, Senegal vintagevillacollezion

Some Tourist Attractions

Tourists from the United States, particularly African-Americans, are flocking to Goree Island, a historic slave trading post. Dakar, the capital; Saint-Louis, an old colonial town; and Touba, the Mouride holy center, are all worth visiting. Gorée Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former center of the West African slave trade, attracts a large number of visitors. The majority of visitors from outside Africa are Europeans, particularly French, and since the 1970s, a hotel and resort industry focused on enclosed beach resorts, most of which are located in resort towns like Saly on the Petite Côte south of Dakar, has been developed to cater to this clientele. Wildlife and nature tours of areas like the Sine-Saloum Delta, the Grande Côte (north of Dakar), the Lac Rose, and the Senegal River delta in the north are frequently added to resort vacations (near Saint-Louis). Visitors flock to Dakar's historic sites, including Gorée Island, museums, and monuments. Saint-Louis, a colonial island town to the north, is known for its long history and colonial architecture. Safari trips are also available to see wildlife, but they may be restricted by east or south African standards. Senegal is known for having some of the best sailfishing in the world. The National Park and Reserve System in Senegal is small but growing. The Langue de Barbarie National Park and Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, both near Saint-Louis, provide wildlife habitat in the dunes and mangrove swamps surrounding the mouth of the Senegal River. The Niokolo-Koba National Park, located in southeastern Senegal near the Guinea-Bissau border, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and natural protected area that protects a wide range of wild animals, including hippopotamuses, elephants, and lions. The area is largely undeveloped, remote, and devoid of tourism infrastructure, but it is a popular destination for specialty tours. The Saloum Delta National Park is a large area of mangrove estuaries and islands that attracts tourists for its wildlife, cultural significance as the home of the Serer minority, and proximity to the Petite-tourist Côte's resorts. Smaller parks and reserves, such as the Guembeul Natural Reserve in the center-west of the Bandia Natural Reserve near Dakar, cater mainly to European tourists, resembling wildlife parks or zoos.

The Saloum Delta National Park in Senegal. Photo by: west Africa tourism and attraction.

Tourism Sector of Senegal in the Face of  Covid-19

Following the recurrence of cases imported from Covid-19, the government agreed to halt all flights to and from Senegal from March 20 to April 17, 2020. According to a press release from the Ministry of Tourism and Air Transport, “this measure applies to all domestic flights between Blaise Diagne de Diass International Airport (AIBD) and Ziguinchor (south); cargo flights, medical evacuations, and special authorized flights” except for “domestic flights between Blaise Diagne de Diass International Airport (AIBD) and Ziguinchor (south); cargo flights, medical evacuations, and special authorized flights.” During these in-depth exchanges with reporters, Mr. Hott insisted on the impasse that the national economy and especially tourism will go through during this period. “Air transport, in particular Air Senegal, AIBD and all the structures around this platform, hotel companies, restaurants, and travel agencies will inevitably be impacted by the suspension of flights,” said the former Vice-president of the African Development Bank (AfDB). On average, Senegal receives 1.6 million tourists a year. As the pandemic continues, vendors at the Soumbédioune craft market in central Dakar, which is normally a draw for tourist searching for souvenirs, are struggling. A sculptor from Dakar's crafts market, Moulaye Ndiaye, shared his observations with Africannews.com.

“Everything is slowed down, or rather, everything has completely stopped. For other sectors, the shopkeepers in the city centre, for example, it's not that bad, they are still working. But we, who are craftsmen, who depend directly on tourism, are very affected by all this.”

For this country, the health crisis shaking the world will lead to a significant drop in the turnover of companies, not only in this sector but also of their suppliers. Maintaining jobs will certainly be a daunting and permanent task as well as the tourism sector.

（Priscilla Owusu-Ansah，Assistant of CWAS from School of Public Affairs and Administration of UESTC）

Please refer to the Chinese Version published on Huanqiu.com, one of the top three rating news media in China. Huanqiu.com is a national rating on line media platform, approved by the publisher of People's Daily and the Central Internet Information Office of China. This column is to provide a platform for researchers and practitioners on West African issues.

Link:https://opinion.huanqiu.com/article/4347pm61TX5