Tourism Potential of West Africa

[Sokotocaliphate]

Originally Posted by Tbite

The major mistake you are making is you are looking at what East Africa has to offer and then expecting West Africa to be East Africa, when the reality is there are a million things in West Africa that East Africa doesn't have. ....

Even though Popa is conceited and arrogant - traits that aren't exactly exclusive to him based on some comments found here *cough* - what you have written is no different to what that Popa guy has been saying.

Pride aside, Popa has a point (note to self: I said "a" {singular} point) and you have just reiterated his point. He expressed that WA can indeed carve out a market in tourism if aspects such as culture was our selling point - that's but one example.
Culture includes Architecture (Mali used to be a tourist destination)......culture includes Durbar festival (Northern Nigeria used to be a tourist attraction)......culture includes the diverse ethnic groups (curious travelers have come to see the Wodaabe male beauty pageant in Niger)....culture includes history (Ghana appeals to the diaspora i.e. Elmina castle).....culture includes Art, Religion etc. In fact it would be quite savvy for WA to cater to a different audience (and not rely on a format that has worked for some) when it comes to tourism. WA will obviously have something different to offer.

The reason why this discussion has even arisen is because tourism is a popular sector in EA.
If events were the other way around and East Africa hadn't developed their tourism sector and West Africa was reliant on tourism...Popa would have addressed the same issue from the other way around; claiming that EA won't attract the type of audience that West Africa will ignoring the fact that EA can offer something unique that doesn't have to match WA but can complement West Africa.

One must capitalize on their strengths and uniqueness i.e. Ghana did not highlight zebras as their focal point for tourism, they focused on the actual diaspora. Do you think a Jamaican will go to Kenya and Ghana for the same reason even though Ghana too has safari?...if Kenya was to tailor it's tourism to the Diasporans....between Ghana and Kenya, who do you think they will favour? That is why one must project a reason (a valid, unique reason) why particular people should visit such country. There is variety on the continent so we can't all offer blue when some of us have red.

Originally Posted by popa1980

Now id like to continue this but Im off to Estonia tonight, country number 50-something tonight. Happy typing......

Oh Popa, when one is discussing white you must add black thereby diverting most threads you grace your presence with but safe journeys nonetheless and don't hold back with your memoirs when you come back (undoubtedly plenty of anecdotes will be featuring Nigerians).
If you like, get lost in the wilderness of Estonia.

[èđđeůx]

I don't see safari tourism as a niche for tourism in West Africa. It's something that's bigger in the East and will always be that way more than likely.

However, I do think that tourism focused on cultural/historical reasons (i.e. setting up historical museums, visiting ancient historical sites, etc.) could be the niche for the west. But of course I don't know how much cultural landmarks/artifacts are maintained in WA countries.

[Tbite]

Who cares about Safari tourism

We have a million things in west Africa that we can offer

I know I would rather go and see the beauty of Dakar, Timbuktu or the Architecture in Popo Aguda in Lagos or Porto Novo in Benin than a bunch of Lions that I can see in any Local Zoo

[Naijaborn]

Safrai was Just an example.East Africa has other things as well, u know??

[Naijaborn]

Anyways, I am yet to see an E African equivalent of this:

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[Tbite]

And what is the Safari Experience anyway? So you didn't get up close enough in the Zoo..so now you want the authentic experience..so you get out of the Land Cruiser...and you wanna get up closer...only you get eaten up by one of those savage beasts that suddenly don't look so cute anymore...and your party are now asking themselves why they journeyed all the way to East Africa and didn't just watch it on National Geographic in a nice hotel in Dakar

Yeah so they also got Momabasa, Zanzibar....so? We don't have such tranquil places in West Africa? Or is Popa still complaining about the water temperature

Kilimanjaro isn't even what it used to be anymore with most of the ice melted. Now it's just Kiliman-ojoro

[Naijaborn]

or this:

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[Naijaborn]

Originally Posted by Tbite

A
Kilimanjaro isn't even what it used to be anymore with most of the ice melted. Now it's just Kiliman-ojoro

:

[Sokotocaliphate]

Oh so it's West Africa vs East Africa now?

One word from Popa has transformed the thread into....
Tourism Potential of West Africa vs East Africa's Established Tourism abi?

Is it possible to now talk about WA tourism without referencing East Africa...Popa is apparently in Estonia so the coast is clear you know...we can actually return to our initial objective now chei!

You guys have already agreed that West Africa can offer something unique so why compare and contrast, this is how threads expire quickly.

[Tbite]

Hopefully East Africans don't come in here and see my post I was just joking

[Arinze]

Thank you Tbite, you have said everything I've wanted to said did I personally say 5 years tourism would be booming? No. I was looking long term and the fact that Nigeria image today is bad does not mean it can't be changed tomorrow.

Are Europeans the only tourists in the world? God your post reeks of ass-hatism.

Popa if you have nothing to add but stupidity there are plenty of threads beside this one you can contribute to, you have this tendency to relate everything to Europeans as the Gold Standard when clearly they are not with regards to the cluster fuck the EU is now. You do this in Angola, Nigeria, and etc. if you think Africa is up the creek without a paddle then leave them the hell alone and go about your business.

When I pointed out the animals that Nigeria has, they are now too tiny in diversity, man get out of here with that mess If you actually were not clueless you would know that certain species are in a specific area, there are not 30 different types of Elephants in East Africa there is just one general species so your diversity point is moot. Also in this day and age animal populations can be increased with care and management which is what is occurring in Yankari.

Which at the end of the day had nothing to do with my overall point you look as though investing in Safaris and ultimately protecting animals in West Africa is bad thing? Even if its not a big tourism draw its still a good thing anyway

[Arinze]

Originally Posted by èđđeůx

I don't see safari tourism as a niche for tourism in West Africa. It's something that's bigger in the East and will always be that way more than likely.

However, I do think that tourism focused on cultural/historical reasons (i.e. setting up historical museums, visiting ancient historical sites, etc.) could be the niche for the west. But of course I don't know how much cultural landmarks/artifacts are maintained in WA countries.

I'm looking at it from a holistic approach, nature. culture. city life. etc.
Popa just focuses on safaris as though anyone wants to spend a grand just looking at a Zebra. To be affective you must look at all fronts to be successful in tourism. If someone stops in Lagos to enjoy the sights, goes to Benin to look at the bronzes, and wants to snap a picture with an Elephant in Yankari then that means money all around Nigeria.

[Arinze]

Fast Facts:
Official Language: French
Commonly used languages:Baoulé, Dioula, Dan, Anyin, and Cebaara Senufo
Borders:Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana
Major city:Abidjan
Capital:Yamoussoukro

Natural:

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr





Cultural:







City life:

[SouthernGirl]

like this thread...

[Arinze]

at least someone likes it

[Tbite]

I believe that the greatest asset Nigeria has tourism wise...is its culture.

The Nigerian culture is very powerful and rich and you can see it expressed in all areas.

I think for any person interested in arts etc, Nigeria is a country that they must visit.

I would say the three most important countries in Africa when it comes to cultural value are Nigeria, Egypt and Sudan.

[Naijaborn]

Yr Opinion has bn considerd

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by èđđeůx

I don't see safari tourism as a niche for tourism in West Africa. It's something that's bigger in the East and will always be that way more than likely.

However, I do think that tourism focused on cultural/historical reasons (i.e. setting up historical museums, visiting ancient historical sites, etc.) could be the niche for the west. But of course I don't know how much cultural landmarks/artifacts are maintained in WA countries.

What? I think places like Mali, Mauritania , Senegal , Burkina faso Etc... can offer the equivelent of East-Africa's Safari. overover. West Africa has this Unique Authentic Architecture that the East Africa doesn't have. well, WA also has more beaches than EA.

I just think WA hasn't taken Tourism seriously as much as EA or Southern-A.

EA doesn't have monopoly of Safari or Tourism. SADC region is already big in this business.Angola is on the way, real fast. Mozamb (don't mention it). Only Cameroun and DRC are still sleepy as hell.

[èđđeůx]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

What? I think places like Mali, Mauritania , Senegal , Burkina faso Etc... can offer the equivelent of East-Africa's Safari. overover. West Africa has this Unique Authentic Architecture that the East Africa doesn't have. well, WA also has more beaches than EA.

Which is why I think safaris won't become the main attraction to the region. tourism should suited around cultural sites in West Africa.

EA doesn't have monopoly of Safari or Tourism. SADC region is already big in this business.Angola is on the way, real fast. Mozamb (don't mention it). Only Cameroun and DRC are still sleepy as hell.

True, but ofc it's more well-known and established, safari seems to be more associated with East than any other region, IMO.

But I think the East should start using cultural tourism too (which I honestly have no clue of).

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by èđđeůx

Which is why I think safaris won't become the main attraction to the region. tourism should suited around cultural sites in West Africa.

Yep. WA its the richest culturally. I don't know about Atlantic waters, but the like of Mozambique, Senegal Resort type of Tourism is also something WA can be big on. just look how long the damn coast is. and its all tropical.

True, but ofc it's more well-known and established, safari seems to be more associated with East than any other region, IMO.

Southern (Zambia, Zimb, Botswana, SA) is well developed as well. DRC and Angola also can get the Safari industry . they have very large land mass for that type of Tourism.

But I think the East should start using cultural tourism too (which I honestly have no clue of).

Cultural? too Western for that.