Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has expressed his ambition to make Senegal a leading tourism destination in West Africa and to organize a "major” international tourism fair every year.
At the recent Council of Ministers meeting, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye tasked the Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts with collaborating with the Minister of Air Transport, airlines, and the private sector to hold a significant annual international tourism fair.
The purpose of this fair is to promote "Destination Senegal" on a global scale and boost domestic tourism, as stated in the Council of Ministers' communiqué.
Additionally, the Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts, Mountaga Diao, has been instructed to work closely with tour operators, local associations, and other sector professionals to revitalize promotional activities.
Among the identified priorities, the Senegalese Head of State emphasized the importance of a "strategic oversight" of developments along the national coastline. He stressed the need for strict management of hotel and tourism infrastructure, particularly on sites under the responsibility of the Senegalese Coastline Development and Promotion Company (SAPCO).
Furthermore, the President has also called on the government to integrate tourism into professional training programs, notably within the 3 FPT (Professional and Technical Training Funding Fund) and the National State-Employer Agreement.