Rencontre entre l’État et les acteurs du tourisme : Alpha Thiam annonce « un grand retour du tourisme»
The Minister of Culture, Crafts, and Tourism, Alpha Thiam, received a delegation from the Federation of Employers' Organizations in the Senegalese Tourism Industry (FOPITS) yesterday in Diamniadio. The delegation was led by its president, Mamadou Racine Sy. Around the table were the leading names in the national hotel industry: Terroubi, Mövenpick, Sheraton, Royal Saly, Bougainvilliers… the cream of the crop. Discussions focused on the tax burden, deemed stifling, the insufficient competitiveness of Senegal as a tourist destination, competition from furnished apartments, the high cost of air travel, unresolved public debt, and security challenges. These are all obstacles hindering the hoped-for recovery following the shock of the pandemic.
In response to these grievances, Alpha Thiam announced "the great return of Senegalese tourism" to the national and international stage, with the prospect of a national tourism conference in the coming days.
The minister stressed the need to "trust the country's economic champions," in line with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's vision. "There can be no development in a country without champions," he emphasized.
Among the urgent issues, the minister mentioned: the tax burden felt by hoteliers; the obstacles related to hotel credit; the lack of international appeal, with Senegal's absence from key source markets; the need to open the national airspace "intelligently" and encourage the return of charter flights; and the lack of reliable statistics, hence the announcement of the creation of a tourism observatory.
Mamadou Racine Sy, an emblematic figure in the sector, emphasized that tourism is a strategic activity for the national economy, generating jobs and added value. "When tourism thrives, everything thrives," he stated with conviction. Immediate prospects offer reasons for hope: the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly, as well as the upcoming Biennale of Arts, should provide a much-needed boost to a sector seeking recovery.
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je n'irai plus jamais au sénégal tant que ce traitre sera au pouvoir
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