World Tourism Day: In Saly, stakeholders plant the seeds of sustainable tourism

To mark World Tourism Day, celebrated on September 27, the Collective of Tourism Stakeholders in Senegal (CATS) put its words into action. In Saly, the collective organized a reforestation and beautification project at a natural site, planting around twenty coconut palms and one hundred cordia trees. This initiative was undertaken in support of sustainable tourism and in preparation for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

“We want to do tourism differently,” declared Ousmane Alioune Sylla, First Vice-President of CATS. The choice of Saly is explained in particular by the seaside resort's status as one of the sites selected to host competitions for the Youth Olympic Games. In partnership with the Saly town hall and with technical support from SAPCO, CATS aimed to contribute to the beautification of a natural area considered a potential asset for sustainable tourism.

“We really wanted to beautify this natural site (...) which can contribute to sustainable tourism here in Senegal,” explained Ousmane Alioune Sylla, adding that this action also constitutes a way for tourism professionals to support the momentum of the YOG.

Abou Ba, Chairman of the CATS's Living Environment, Compliance and Sustainability Commission, emphasized the close link between environmental protection and tourism development. "No one can talk about tourism today without talking about sustainability. Without the environment, there is no tourism. And tourism sustains us; we must also sustain the environment," he noted.

For him, the preservation of natural spaces must now be at the heart of tourism policies and initiatives. The planting of around twenty coconut trees and a hundred cordia trees constitutes, in his view, a concrete contribution to improving the living environment and the attractiveness of Saly as a destination.

The head of CATS is therefore calling for a collective mobilization of professionals, authorities and populations around the protection of tourist sites and the fight against environmental degradation.

Beyond the symbolism, the operation also aims to prepare the ground for welcoming the visitors expected for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. For CATS, the organization of this international competition represents an opportunity to showcase the tourist attractions of Saly and, more broadly, of the Petite-Côte.

The group aims to ensure its actions are sustainable, combining beautification, environmental protection, and tourism promotion. For tourism professionals, a destination's appeal depends not only on its infrastructure but also on the quality of its environment.

Created in 2021, CATS presents itself as a group of professionals in the sector, which intends to contribute to the development of Senegalese tourism without replacing trade union organizations.