Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Roma (Agenzia Fides) - Two Africa countries, devastated by civil war, are hoping tourism will re-launch their economies. One is Rwanda, which after the civil war and genocide of 1994 is determined to take the path of economic development, and the other is Sierra Leone, a country returning to stability since civil war ended in 2002.
Rwanda has signed a contract with an Arab Emirates' holding to develop 8 tourist structures for a value of 230 million dollars. Construction work will start at the end of 2007. The involved areas include Akagera National Park, in east Rwanda, on the banks of Lake Victoria. Rwanda's national part is part of a regional ecosystem which includes Uganda's Kikagati Game Riserve and Tanzania's Ibanda Rumanyika reserves. In this way in future regional level synergy could create an integrated tourist hub.
The Arab Emirates Holding directors, interested themselves in post-petroleum tourism, are enthusiastic about the agreement: “Rwanda is known to be the sub-Saharan African country which has made the best improvements in its economic position. It has opted for the path of sustainable development has a safe environment and great potential for growth”.
Rwanda's minister of industry said “our plan for socio-economic reforms in Rwanda is to make our country a regional node for quality service. In this context tourism is a pillar for rapid economic growth. Our policy for tourism is to become a quality destination by capitalising our unique natural beauty, security, property rights and tolerance zero for corruption”.
Sierra Leone is only just beginning to look at the tourist market, because it still has to rebuild and upgrade infrastructures destroyed in the 1991-2002civil war. Before the conflict, Sierra Leone welcomed more than 30,000 tourists to its splendid beaches every year. Some were luxury clients who came by helicopter and stayed at a few exclusive hotels. During the war the structures were looted and raised to the ground. The recent presidential elections (see Fides 17 and 19 September 2007) helped to improve the country's image although it will have to work hard to increase the number of tourists. At the moment Sierra Leone has 4,000 tourists a year. Newly elected President Ernest Bai Koroma intends to focus on agriculture and tourism to create an economy less dependent on bauxite and ruthenic mining. But this will mean foreign investments which can be attracted by the country's exotic beauty, including magnificent beaches, a few rare animal species and its vicinity to European countries with which it shares the same time difference. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 11/10/2007 righe 35 parole 492)
