Tourism
From The Report: Gabon 2016
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In a bid to diversify Gabon’s economy away from hydrocarbons, the government has been looking to boost the tourism sector as a means to generate foreign currency, create jobs and promote social and economic development across the country. The sector is expected to develop in the next few years on the back of expanded hotel capacity, upgraded transport infrastructure and better air links, following the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (ACN). As a major regional event, the 2017 ACN should give the sector a major boost, especially with regard to hotel capacity. However, further work to address obstacles, including a lack of qualified staff, insufficient transport links to parks and ongoing poaching activities, remains crucial to developing the industry.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Tropical gem: Given vast potential for niches like ecotourism, authorities work to address challenges to development
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In a bid to diversify Gabon’s economy away from hydrocarbons, the government has been looking to boost the tourism sector as a means to generate foreign currency, create jobs and promote social and economic development across the country. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, in 2015 the total (direct and indirect) contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was 2.7%, a figure that authorities are seeking to raise via a new development plan aimed at boosting ecotourism and business…

Analysis

On the frontline: Stepping up efforts to protect wildlife from poachers and develop ecotourism in the country’s natural parks
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One of the most biodiverse countries in West Africa, Gabon’s forests cover around 85% of the country’s territory and are home to more than 3000 different species of vegetation and at least 190 species of mammals, including forest elephants and hippopotamuses. As of 2015 the country had 23.6m ha of forests, according to a recent study by the country’s space agency, the Gabonese Agency for Spacial Studies and Observation (Agence Gabonaise d’Etudes et d’Observation Spatiales AGEOS). In 2002,…

Analysis

The right skills: New initiatives to enhance sector-specific training opportunities and raise quality of service
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In 2015 Gabon’s tourism sector directly supported 4000 jobs, accounting for 1% of total employment, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. With the rollout of the National Tourism Strategy (Stratégie Nationale du Tourisme, SNT) 2015-25, authorities expect the tourism sector to create around 20,000 jobs by 2025, an ambitious goal requiring additional capacity in terms of education and training. As Gabon looks to develop as a high-end destination, a greater focus on quality of service…