TOURISM, A KEY DRIVER OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
To date, support from the World Centre of Destination Excellence has benefited countries in the Americas, Western Europe and Asia, which were quick to grasp the relevance and effectiveness of SMED (System of Measures for Destination Excellence) tools. In Africa, it was above all the northern countries, notably Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, that benefited from the implementation of SMED, thus contributing to the development of the destinations involved.
In view of the positive feedback from the localities that have benefited from CED’s support, the needs expressed by other countries on the continent are multiplying. Examples include Burundi (for its “Greater Bujumbura” destination), Côte d’Ivoire (to promote tourism in its national parks and reserves) and Cameroon (to prepare local elected officials for the imminent transfer of local development powers). Moreover, from October 30 to November 05, 2023, thanks to the support of CED, a learning mission on tourism and local development will bring some fifty local elected officials, experts and economic operators from Cameroon to the Mégantic Region in Quebec-Canada.
The City of Lac-Mégantic, which will be the headquarters of this training, partnership, forward-looking and intercultural mission, is part of a worldwide network of destinations that have benefited from a SMED Lab as part of their tourism development strategy.
There’s no doubt that the Cameroonian localities taking part in this mission will be able to work with CED, which has 4 regional offices in Africa.
To be continued!
West Africa Division: Director, Pierre Akossi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/akobe-pierre-akossi-581a4a88/)
Mediterranean and Middle East Division, Director Jamel Gamra (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamel-gamra-9a7102a/)
Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Division, Director Sen Ramsamy (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sen-ramsamy-b465367/)
Director Central Africa (CEEAC), Director Dr Dongmo Temgoua Bertrand (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertrand-dongmo-temgoua-a1a0564b/)
#Tourism, #Africa, #development, #destination, #territory, #OMT, #culture, #nature,
