With Senegals New culture and tourism minister Youssou Ndour. What can he do to promote tourism? Especially tourism from the USA. Senegal gets it tourism mainly from Europe. I see the United States as a huge untapped market. My person thoughts on why American don't travel to West Africa for leisure. I list three reasons in no particular order.The cost of Airfare
Why got to Africa when you can get a cheap flight to the Caribbean Islands... who are begging via advertisements to come?
Safety Concerns
Most of the news that American see about Africa is very negative. They cover the wars, aides, and poverty.
No direct advertising
Advertising is very important. American flock to Jamaica and South Africa ( with real safety concerns) That is because they invest in ads to promote tourism.
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3 comments:
It will be fine if it is surrounded by tourism professionals and good advisors. The struggle for me the need to have it's first battle in the media. We must restore to Africa her beautiful image in order to attract them.
Yes.... the Media coverage in USA of Africa is horrible. The only positive coverage you see is the tourism ads from South Africa (and a little to Ghana). That is why when you ask someone where in Africa would they like to Vacation they always pick South Africa. African American want to go to Africa to trace their roots. If that was the case the you must realize most African Americans ancestors came from West Africa. Like Sineta George (owner of Senegal Style) stated "We have absolutely zero cultural connection to South Africa, but we go there by the thousands every year! It's like an Irish man going to Italy to find his roots - same continent, wrong area".
The purpuse of the site is to promote tourism from America. I hope Mr.Ndour works with American tour companys to help them promote Senegal. I know whatever Senegal invest in good targeted advertisment will be returned in tourism spending.
I am an African American global travel. I became determined to visit Senegal because I believe that is my family origin.
I was very disappointed with the lack of information and ease for planning a trip . The cost to Africa including hotel and airfare is expensive and for most people it will have to be a trip of a lifetime.
I think that a trip should be planned with a focus for people who desire to go for spiritual purposes and /or cultural exploration.
It would be nice to take part of homecoming ceremony with the spiritual work of forgiveness, and moving forward with the ancestors.
The trauma of slavery is in the DNA and as a race we must complete the deprogramming process of slavery and find true liberation.
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