Congo Basin Ecotourism PerspectivesEugenio Yunis, Head, Sustainable Development of Tourism, World Tourism OrganizationRemarks at Symposium on Natural Resource Conservation and Economic Development in the Congo Basin: The Role of Ecotourism Rosslyn, VA February 21, 2003 In spite of their natural richness, most Sub Saharan African countries have only marginally benefited from the recent expansion of demand for ecotourism products and services, or from the sustained growth of tourism as a whole over the last quarter of the XX century. This is particularly so in the case of the countries in the Congo Basin Initiative (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Republic of Congo, DR of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea), which are among the least developed tourism destinations in Africa.
Nevertheless, in the period 1990-2000, total international tourist arrivals in Sub Saharan African nations grew from 6.8 million to 17.8 million, that is, an annual average rate of 10.1%, thanks to the rapid growth experienced by the countries in Southern and Eastern Africa, specially South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, and also by Ghana and Nigeria. In the six countries of the Congo Basin, arrivals remained practically stagnant in the same 10 years and totaled less than 400,000. Similarly, foreign exchange earnings from tourism expanded in the African continent at a rate of 9 per cent per annum, and reached USD 7.1 billion in 2000, excluding the receipts of the Northern African countries, while in the Congo Basin countries revenues from tourism experienced 0 growth and remained at USD 70 million in total.
Notwithstanding this bleak picture, the potential for ecotourism development in the countries of the Congo Basin is very promising, and this for various reasons.
Firstly, because all these countries possess numerous natural attractions, with plenty of native flora and fauna, different landscapes and several other attributes that are essential elements for, and can form the base of an attractive and successful ecotourism industry.
Secondly, because of the virginity of the territories and the almost total absence of large tourism infrastructures in natural areas make these countries an ideal location for developing sustainable ecotourism projects, with well designed accommodation units, to satisfy the most demanding segments of the ecotourism markets.
Thirdly, because these countries are reasonably close to the main tourist-generating countries of Europe, which are the main market for African tourism. Currently, there is a total of around 60 weekly direct air connections between cities in these six countries and several European capitals. Access, therefore, would not be a problem, at least in an initial stage of tourism development.
Tourism in general, and ecotourism in particular, is one of the few economic activities that can contribute to solve at the same time two of the most pressing needs of African nations: reduce poverty levels and conserve the natural environment. Tourism can create employment for, and develop entrepreneurial capabilities among local people at relatively low training costs and at a low unit cost (number of jobs created by volume of investment). Ecotourism has demonstrated in many countries that it can give economic value to natural resources without necessarily exhausting or damaging the resource. Also by giving value to the landscape, to the flora and fauna, it raises the environmental level of awareness of local peoples, who then join in the conservation efforts.
Attractions that can be developed for ecotourism in these countries include the following:
a) Five World Heritage Sites in the DR Congo Problems to be solved/Actions that can be undertaken by external donors:
a) Security Before detailing WTO activities and initiatives relevant to the Congo Basin region, allow me to explain briefly the nature and the basic function of the World Tourism Organization:
The World Tourism Organization is the leading international organization in the field of tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how and statistics. Its membership includes 139 countries, seven territories and some 350 Affiliate Members representing regional and local promotion boards, tourism trade associations, educational institutions and private sector companies, including airlines, hotel groups and tour operators.
With its headquarters in Madrid (Spain), WTO is an intergovernmental organization vested by the United Nations with a central and decisive role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. Through tourism, WTO aims to stimulate economic growth and job creation, provide incentives for protecting the environment and cultural heritage, and promote peace, prosperity and respect for human rights.
The WTO Program Activity Sections cover all mayor aspects of tourism:
WTO activities and initiatives in the countries of the Congo Basin:
a) Gabon (1995): Feasibility Study for Tourism Master Plan WTO activities related to ecotourism development in the African region (examples):
Activities in the framework of the International Year of Ecotourism 2002:
Other related activities:
Current and future work of WTO is centered on the implementation of the Johannesburg Summit Resolutions, especially considering Paragraph 43 on Sustainable Tourism, Para. 70 on Tourism Development in Africa, and other crosscutting issues of the WSSD Plan of Implementation.
WTO has initiated a Special Program for Sub-Saharan Africa, which consists of the following seven pivotal points: 1. Economic Measurement of African Tourism Thank you for your attention! |
 | |||
|
