Forum to boost tourism in Senegal’s Casamance

By

Alpha Jallow

Local authorities and stakeholders in the tourism sector are holding a three-day regional forum to reactive the activities of tourism in the restive Casamance region in Southern Senegal.

The forum, referred to as the 72 hours meeting, to revive the activities of tourism in the region was initiated by the Mayor of Diembereng Mr.Tombon Gueye.

In his opening speech, Mr.Gueye delved at length on the declining number of tourists visiting the Casamance region which is attributed to the three decades old low intensity rebellion which has ravaged the tourist industry in this naturally beautiful region.

He elaborated on the need to provide good tourist attractions such as good standing hotels and clean sandy beaches. He stated that as the mayor of the area, he will do everything within the limit of his jurisdiction to revive the tourism sector in Diembereng, Cap Skirring and Kabrousse, which are all potential tourist destinations.

Mayor Gueye used the occasion to call on stakeholders in the tourist sector to put all hands on deck to promote this beautiful and culturally rich region as a major tourist destination.

Speaking earlier, the local government administrator said that the government will partner with interested persons in the tourist sector to revive the region as a major tourist destination in Senegal.

He added that government will help potential stakeholders in the tourism sector to secure loans to promote the tourist sector in this natural and beautiful region of Casamance.

He said that the lifting of the travel ban by France means that security has been restored in this once volatile region, and therefore called on investors to invest in the tourist sector in Casamance.

It will be recalled however that the aforementioned three decades old rebellion in the restive Casamance region has resulted in many western countries, including Senegal’s traditional partner in the tourist sector France, issuing a travel advice which gradually reduced the number of French tourists visiting Casamance for fear of being abducted or killed by marauding gunmen.

Alpha Jallow

Alpha is a freelance journalist from Dakar, Senegal, having worked for the BBC African Radio service, West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR) and Radio France Internationale (RFI).