Tourism
From The Report: Djibouti 2016
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Djibouti’s tourism sector has set some ambitious goals, including an aim of attracting 500,000 visitors by 2030. The industry is slated to play a key role in the government’s economic development strategy, Djibouti Vision 2035, which looks to leverage the role of tourism as a job creator and foreign exchange earner, in line with broader economic diversification efforts. Djibouti benefits from a variety of niche attractions, including sandy beaches along the Red Sea, salt lakes, volcanic fields and popular underwater diving sites. Yet, according to the World Bank’s “Country Partnership Strategy for the Republic of Djibouti” report, published in March 2014, only 10% of the country’s tourism potential is being exploited. Concerns over infrastructure shortfalls remain, and further capacity development is required, as limited connectivity is an impediment to tourism growth. This chapter contains an interview with Bertrand Lafrance, Founder, Discover and Aid Nature Wildlife Reserve.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

On the radar: The country’s immense potential is getting more attention
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With the goal of attracting half a million visitors by 2030, Djibouti’s tourism sector has set some ambitious goals in place. The industry is slated to play a key role in the government’s economic development strategy, Vision 2035, which looks to leverage the role of tourism as a job creator and foreign exchange earner in line with broader economic diversification efforts. There is plenty room for growth in the small country. Djibouti benefits from a number of niche attractions, including sandy…

Interview

Preserving resources: OBG talks to Bertrand Lafrance, Founder and President, Discover and Aid Nature (DECAN) Wildlife Reserve
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Interview: Bertrand Lafrance What can be done to further the development of ecotourism in Djibouti? BERTRAND LAFRANCE: When talking about tourism in Djibouti, it is important to make the distinction between regular tourism and ecotourism. In ecotourism the core thinking behind these efforts is to use the revenues made from attracting visitors to reinvest locally in protection of the country’s nature. The challenge is that regular tourism business operators - characterized by large-scale investments,…

Analysis

Chipping in: Private sector participation will be key to funding development
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Attracting 500,000 visitors annually by 2030 will necessitate infrastructural and capital improvements across the board, alongside a significant increase in current spending on promotional campaigns. As a result, the financing requirements are sizable. However, with the country already devoting a large portion of its budget to upgrades focused on the cargo and bulk transport sector, its ability to directly fund its tourism initiatives is limited. In order to overcome this, it is looking to attract…