2023-10-02 22:05:54
The IFTM Top Résa, one of the largest international tourism fairs, opens today in Paris. Around twenty young Africans are coming out of a residency of several months where they made proposals and launched projects to live better and develop secondary African cities. This program emanating from the public policy incubator “I am committed to Africa” made it possible to identify concrete solutions. On the tourism side, it is on the town of Aného in Togo that these young people – met in Paris – have focused their work.
50 kilometers from Lomé is the coastal town of Aného, landscapes of coconut trees, shades of blue, at the mouth of Lake Togo.
« It’s a city full of landscapes… A real seaside resort in reality, if the potential is truly exploited », Supports Marlène Békalé. A 27-year-old Gabonese, she is a public affairs consultant and resident of the “I’m committed to Africa” program in Paris.
« There is high unemployment and yet there is also enormous potential, whether cultural or natural. The angle of attack was to know how we manage to create a link so that we can overcome this challenge of untapped potential and work, training, local economic development », explains Marlène Békalé.
“A city is not born touristy, it becomes one”
Unemployment is an obstacle to tourism development. The proposal made by the young residents for the young people of Aného: it is the creation of a training center for hospitality professions, particularly in the hotel and catering industry.
« We know that it is a city that receives a lot, which organizes major events, and we think that this will be useful not only for local actors, but also for young people who are looking for employment, because it will enhance the local area. . This will make it known abroad and many tourists will be interested in it. […]. A city is not born touristy, it becomes one. And this is what we offer », insists Kevin N’Chanda, also a 27-year-old Cameroonian, and also a public affairs consultant.
Extend the tourism dynamic
The worry in Aného is the rising water levels. Road works, coastal developments and the construction of dikes several years ago had revived a moribund tourist activity. With this training school, Marlène Békalé intends to extend the dynamic.
« The goal during these three months was also to be able to bring different stakeholders who had difficulty communicating around the table. “, she explains. “ Concretely, we had the mayor of Aného and we had a hotel group, Onomo. We managed to get them around the table, discuss with them, propose the project, see what was possible and try to mend things as best as possible.. »
Togo has made tourism a key sector for the coming years. With 1 million visitors in 2021. The rise stopped abruptly by the Covid-19 epidemic seems to be starting once more more beautifully.
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