Fiche secteur apix anglais tourisme 18 10_2017

1. SECTOR FACT SHEET • TOURISM
TOURISM
www.investissenegal.com
SECTOR PROFILE
Senegal, country of Teranga (hospitality), committed early in the development of tourism due to a political vision,
resulting in voluntarism in this area, then making option except in West Africa.
This proactive policy has resulted in the construction of receptive hotel on public funds, incentives to businessmen
and a sort of national networking of regional capitals in receptive hoteliers.
Its proximity to 5-hour flight from major European source markets, its international audience, especially by its cultural
influence him one of the cultural crossroads of the black world, its long tradition of openness and hospitality, ancient
contacts with the abroad and its geographical position which makes it one of the sunniest countries of the world,
ensured the success of the destination resort product especially in the winter.
Traditionally focused on seaside and business tourism, the past few years have witnessed the development of niche
products. There are four main tourist products, with a strong predominance of seaside tourism (54% of the offer)
and business tourism (33% of the offer). The tourist destination “Senegal” was built around business and conference
tourism.
Dakar serves as a gateway of West Africa, for conference and business tourism, given its extraordinary geographical
position. The capital is well positioned on this niche due to its exceptional location and the country’s dynamic
diplomacy.
The performance of the tourism sector is an essential element in accelerating the economic success of Senegal,
which is looking to rapidly become an emerging country. While the destination has had significant potential for a few
decades, the value that tourism adds to the productive structure is still low (6 percent of GDP), and the sector has a
strong growth outlook that should be exploited.
Despite the efforts made to improve business in the sub-sector, Senegalese tourism does not fully utilize the natural
and cultural assets of the country. The business climate has indeed improved with the lowering of the VAT for
tourism-related services—the tax went from 18 percent to 10 percent. Substantial advantages and incentives are
planned in the Investment Code.

2. SECTOR FACT SHEET • TOURISM
TOURISM
www.investissenegal.com
Tourism has a strategic and emerging position in the economic and social policy of Senegal, which reinforces the
authorities’ will to strengthen the country’s second export sector and increase investment in touristic activities.
The high-capacity tourist zones are Dakar (Business and Sea side tourism), Thiès (Seaside) and more specifically the
petite côte, Casamance (ecotourism and Seaside), Tambacounda (game and discovery tourism), Fatick (ecotourism)
and Saint-Louis (cultural and seaside tourism).
A major support facility gradually developed around the main tourist resorts of Senegal, ranking the sector among
the pillars of the country’s development.
Senegal has comparative advantages in the tourism sector. The following ecological factors are the most prevalent:
COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES
• 300 days of sunshine per annum
• 5 hours of flight from major European issuing market
• 500 km of beaches
• 700km of coastline
• development of new sites underway on the petite côte
• segment registering high growth in recent years and existence of great development
opportunities
• improvement of urban mobility on main roads
• valuable natural assets with coastal, river and terrestrial ecosystems
• rich biodiversity
• 6 national parks
• 4 natural reserves
• strong development of niches such as discovery and sport-fishing tourism

3. SECTOR FACT SHEET • TOURISM
TOURISM
www.investissenegal.com
SENEGAL’S POSITIONING
Tourism in Sénégal offers a broad range of opportunities in various sectors and activities, in particular in the
development of tourist zones, the hotel and catering industry, tourist transport, the organization of conferences
and congresses, recreational activities, etc.
Senegal stands out with undeniable advantages and strong potential that allowed it to assert itself as the premier
destination in francophone Africa with no less than 800 000 tourists every year. Some international events
including the “Festival International de Jazz de Saint-Louis” and Gorée and Park Sanctuary, listed as World Heritage
sites by UNESCO have contributed significantly to the development of the sector
Senegal’s new positioning for the development of tourism is based on a national strategy for increased supply
and improved quality. It is also in line with efforts deployed to make it sustainable, taking into account the project
design as well as environmental, biophysics and social issues, as from the initial phase.
In view of its privileged geographical position, Dakar is the gateway of West Africa, for conference and business
tourism. Dakar occupies a place of choice on this niche because of its mild climate, its exceptional position, its
political stability and the dynamism of its diplomacy.
Thanks to the assets with which Dakar is endowed, business tourism is the most promising of all tourist products in
Senegal. Dakar is a very popular business hub where regional head offices of major public or private institutions are
based: BCEAO, SANOFI-AVENTIS, ERICSSON, ASECNA, Philip Morris, etc.
The business tourism segment has made great strides in recent years and still has immense development
opportunities.
In addition, the Senegalese State has initiated an extensive policy to consolidate the strengths of the destination
for business tourism, by reinforcing Dakar’s position as a hub for business and meetings in the sub-region. Several
major events were recently held in the Senegalese capital (ADB General Assembly, Islamic Conference, etc.).
Furthermore, State policy seeks to step up accommodation capacities in this sector with opportunities to buy-
back and operate hotels under concession or through acquisition in one’s own name, but also to build and operate
multipurpose complexes, for the organisation of large-scale congresses or exhibitions.