Tourism
From The Report: Gabon 2013
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Increasingly aware of the need for economic diversification, Gabon is paying unprecedented attention to the development of its tourism sector. Within the Emerging Gabon strategy, the Green Gabon plan demonstrates recognition of the fact that sustainable development will be key to growth. The upgrading of hospitality options and promotion of Gabon in the ecotourism market should soon boost the sector’s contribution to GDP. Enhanced air connections, better training of human resources, the arrival of international development projects, along with the government’s focus on sustainability, is set to accelerate development efforts.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Betting on green: State support and international investment are set to put the sector on the map
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Increasingly aware of the need for economic diversification, Gabon is paying unprecedented attention to the development of its tourism sector. The new focus is being translated into investments aimed at modernising infrastructure, fostering the design of innovative products that can compete internationally, and looking at how the country’s natural attributes can be used to attract visitors and boost GDP. DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL: Tourism development is directly linked to plans for economic…

Analysis

Tidying up: The government has plans for a more focused management structure
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As increasing attention is given to the development of tourism, policymakers have come to realise that the way public policy for the industry is managed needs a rethink, prompting the government to unify management under one office. In 2011 a presidential decree paved the way for the creation of the National Agency for Tourism Development (Agence Nationale du Développement du Tourisme, ANDT), to bring together different agencies and governmental directorates in charge of the sector. The ANDT…

Analysis

In at the high end: Building infrastructure focused on the luxury segment is the priority
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Taking advantage of its natural resources and rich scenery, Gabon is focusing on building top-notch tourism infrastructure, with the authorities working to transform the country into a regular stop on the sub-Saharan Africa travel circuit. This strategy is based on Emerging Gabon, the national plan which has prioritised conservation as an essential part of economic development. The drive for high-quality tourism will have the double benefit of maintaining the natural resources organised into…