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REPUBLIC
OF GUINEA EAGERLY WELCOMES
TOURISM The theme of
this ATA Congress was "Nature-Culture-Hospitality",
which was most appropriate for this venue. The
Novotel's Grand Hotel de L'Independence served as
the ATA Congress headquarters hotel offering a
beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean shoreline.
Other major hotels include the Meridien and Sabena
along with several private hotels offering quality
services. My overall impression from my visit is
that Guinea is truly a "melting pot" of ethnic
groups with immense cultural diversity, which was a
key attraction to ATA's membership. Our utmost
congratulations to Madame Sylla Hadja Koumba
Diakite, Minister of Tourism, Hotels and
Handicrafts; Mr. Ibrahima Diallo, Director General,
National Office of Tourism; and all of the members
of the travel and tourism industry of the Republic
of Guinea who worked so very hard to truly make
this travel and tourism conference a complete
success. Conakry, the
Capital City of Guinea with a population of
slightly more than one million, is a bustling port
city on the Atlantic Ocean full of sights and
sounds for both the curious and the adventurous. In
2000, tourism accounted for an estimated 100,000
tourists visiting Guinea for approximately six
million dollars. While the travel and tourism
industry is just beginning to emerge in Guinea,
there is tremendous opportunity for growth and
development. Consequently, the Government of Guinea
is eager to build up its capacity to encourage many
more people to visit the country to experience the
wide diversity of adventure tourism, cultural
tourism, and eco-tourism attractions that it has to
offer. Part of
UNESCO's historic "Slave Route", Guinea was the
first African country to benefit from the program
of rebuilding the historic sites on the slave
route. On Host Country Day, ATA delegates had the
opportunity to discover Guinea's "Unspoiled
Africa". The full day tour, sponsored by the
private sector, the Office of Promotion of Private
Investment, took everyone on a scenic tour to
Kindia, including a visit to Konkoure Falls with a
festive luncheon at a private ranch belonging to
the sponsor of the Host Day Program, El Hadj
Mamadou Sylla. Here we also witnessed a marvel of
nature made from two waterfalls known as the "Bride
Veil" which attests to its natural charm creating a
veil of water of exceptional beauty and whiteness.
Guinea, as
stated earlier, is truly renowned for artistic and
cultural diversity as exemplified by songs, dances
and traditions. The highlight of the congress was
viewing a special performance at an evening gala
dinner featuring the Republic of Guinea's world
renowned National Dance Company - Les Ballets
Africains. As star entertainers and ambassadors of
goodwill they are universally recognized as
Africa's foremost touring dance company. Les
Ballets Africains has been touring the world for
more than fifty years presenting its inimitable
blend of traditional dance, music and storytelling,
laced with superb demonstrations of spectacle,
acrobatics, comedy and drama. It was truly a
remarkable performance, full of stunning energy and
outstanding entertainment that left everyone truly
amazed. Guinea also
exhibits an excellent opportunity toward the three
emerging niche markets of African tourism, namely
eco-tourism, adventure tourism and cultural
tourism. There are four distinct areas designated
by relief, climate, flora and fauna, which are
reflected in Guinea's rich history and traditions
as follows: (a) Lower
Guinea &endash; which stretches along the Atlantic
Ocean shoreline as well as the mountains of Fouta
Djalon. It is a region of lush vegetation, dense
forests with giant trees as well as mangrove swamps
and coconut palms; (b) Offshore
Islands &endash; consisting of idyllic scenery with
miles of pristine sandy beaches and rivers with
broad estuaries. With easy access by boat, these
islands offer warm gentle breezes on beautiful
white sandy beaches for relaxation and recreational
activities; (c) Middle
Guinea &endash; which is made up of large mountains
and high plateaus, plus a temperate climate which,
has earned the area the title "Switzerland of
Africa". It is also known as the "Water Tower" of
western Africa because of the many rivers that
originates in this region. These flowing rivers and
churning rapids, hurtling down the mountains create
beautiful waterfalls; (d) Upper
Guinea &endash; which includes plateaus with
vegetation and wooded savannahs with a dry
climate. Guinea is
also known as West Africa's "water reservoir". The
particular feature of the Fouta Djalon mountain
range is that it is the source of and feeds, an
extraordinary number of rivers. The Tinkisso rises
to the north of Oure-Kaba, and flows towards the
Niger, which it meets at Siguiri. The same goes for
the Senegal, created by the confluence of the
Bafing and the Bakoye, and the Faleme, which meets
the Senegal several hundred kilometers downstream,
where the borders of Mali, Senegal and Mauritania
all converge. The Rivers Cogon, Colente, Fatala and
Konkoure, which all flow more rapidly into the
Atlantic Ocean, once earned the region the nickname
of "Land of Southern Rivers". Thanks to this major
river system, Guinea has the largest hydroelectric
reserves (6,600 MWh) in all of West
Africa. Guinea,
geographically situated on the West Coast of
Africa, is bordered on the northwest by
Guinea-Bissau and Senegal, on the northeast by
Mali, on the east by Cote D'Ivoire, on the
southeast by Liberia and Sierra Leone and on the
west by the Atlantic Ocean. Guinea is a land of
approximately 235,857 square miles with three
natural regions: swampy coastal plains along the
Atlantic Ocean shoreline, the extensive and rugged
Fouta Djalon mountain range which is crisscrossed
by deep valleys, and the huge plains to the east.
With its pleasant climate, varied topography,
abundant flora and fauna, Guinea is a true
representation of Western Africa. Guinea has a
tropical climate with regular and abundant
rainfall, as well as a plentiful and well-balanced
hydrographic system. The dry season is from
November to May and the rainy season is from May to
November and the climate changes with the altitude
of the country. The
principal languages are French, which is the
official language, along with Malinke, Fulani and
Soussou. Conakry-Gbessia is the name of the
international airport and Air Guinea is the
national airline. The currency is the Guinean Franc
(GNF) and 100 GNF = $0.075. With a population of
seven million, the people of Guinea are 90% Muslim
and almost 70% of the population lives in rural
areas. The economy of Guinea is primarily based on
the mining industry representing 35% of GDP with
bauxite (it is the world's number two producer),
iron ore, gold and diamond mining. Agriculture and
forestry represent 28% of the GDP with timber,
subsistence crops, livestock and fishing as the
major industry sectors. In
conclusion, while Guinea is still relatively
unknown to the majority of travelers for historic
reasons, a visit to Guinea has the potential to
offer all that can be expected and much more of an
African tour. Often fondly referred to as "the
Promised Land of Africa", Guinea is a land full of
coastlines sprinkled with splendid beaches,
luxurious forests, grand rivers, welcoming
mountains and game-filled savannahs, coupled with
wonderful people encompassing a rich and varied
culture of dancing, music, fashions and handicrafts
in their villages and marketplaces. In my opinion,
both first time visitors and experienced travelers
to Guinea will be thrilled at the multitude of
choices available. For more information about
visiting Guinea, please contact Helen C. Broadus
Toll-Free at 1-877-TO-VENUE [(301)
856-9188] or send me an e-mail at
vipinc@erols.com. About the
author: Helen C. Broadus is the President of Venue
International Professionals, Inc. (VIP) &endash; an
African-American owned full service travel and
tourism company based in the Washington
Metropolitan Area. VIP specializes in providing
escorted and customized travel and tourism packages
for individuals and groups interested in visiting
the African continent. She is also the Executive
Secretary of the Africa Travel Association (ATA)
and has conducted numerous travel and tourism
programs to more than twenty countries in Africa
over the past ten years. REPUBLIC OF
GUINEA: EAGERLY WELCOMES TOURISM By Helen C.
Broadus Guinea, a
country in West Africa with vast tourism potential,
has shaped African history while conserving its
uniquely distinct image. During the African Middle
Ages, Guinea was the center of birth, the
extension, and the successions of the grand West
African empires. Guinea, always protective of it's
liberty, was the last country to be colonized in
West Africa and the first to regain its
independence on October 2, 1958. In May of 2002, I
had the distinct pleasure of visiting Conakry,
Guinea as a delegate to the Africa Travel
Association's (ATA) 27th Annual International
Congress. Overall, it was truly a fantastic
experience for everyone that attended the ATA
Congress, especially since this was the first time
that the ATA organization had the opportunity to
visit Guinea. The theme of
this ATA Congress was "Nature-Culture-Hospitality",
which was most appropriate for this venue. The
Novotel's Grand Hotel de L'Independence served as
the ATA Congress headquarters hotel offering a
beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean shoreline.
Other major hotels include the Meridien and Sabena
along with several private hotels offering quality
services. My overall impression from my visit is
that Guinea is truly a "melting pot" of ethnic
groups with immense cultural diversity, which was a
key attraction to ATA's membership. Our utmost
congratulations to Madame Sylla Hadja Koumba
Diakite, Minister of Tourism, Hotels and
Handicrafts; Mr. Ibrahima Diallo, Director General,
National Office of Tourism; and all of the members
of the travel and tourism industry of the Republic
of Guinea who worked so very hard to truly make
this travel and tourism conference a complete
success. Conakry, the
Capital City of Guinea with a population of
slightly more than one million, is a bustling port
city on the Atlantic Ocean full of sights and
sounds for both the curious and the adventurous. In
2000, tourism accounted for an estimated 100,000
tourists visiting Guinea for approximately six
million dollars. While the travel and tourism
industry is just beginning to emerge in Guinea,
there is tremendous opportunity for growth and
development. Consequently, the Government of Guinea
is eager to build up its capacity to encourage many
more people to visit the country to experience the
wide diversity of adventure tourism, cultural
tourism, and eco-tourism attractions that it has to
offer. Part of
UNESCO's historic "Slave Route", Guinea was the
first African country to benefit from the program
of rebuilding the historic sites on the slave
route. On Host Country Day, ATA delegates had the
opportunity to discover Guinea's "Unspoiled
Africa". The full day tour, sponsored by the
private sector, the Office of Promotion of Private
Investment, took everyone on a scenic tour to
Kindia, including a visit to Konkoure Falls with a
festive luncheon at a private ranch belonging to
the sponsor of the Host Day Program, El Hadj
Mamadou Sylla. Here we also witnessed a marvel of
nature made from two waterfalls known as the "Bride
Veil" which attests to its natural charm creating a
veil of water of exceptional beauty and whiteness.
Guinea, as
stated earlier, is truly renowned for artistic and
cultural diversity as exemplified by songs, dances
and traditions. The highlight of the congress was
viewing a special performance at an evening gala
dinner featuring the Republic of Guinea's world
renowned National Dance Company - Les Ballets
Africains. As star entertainers and ambassadors of
goodwill they are universally recognized as
Africa's foremost touring dance company. Les
Ballets Africains has been touring the world for
more than fifty years presenting its inimitable
blend of traditional dance, music and storytelling,
laced with superb demonstrations of spectacle,
acrobatics, comedy and drama. It was truly a
remarkable performance, full of stunning energy and
outstanding entertainment that left everyone truly
amazed. Guinea also
exhibits an excellent opportunity toward the three
emerging niche markets of African tourism, namely
eco-tourism, adventure tourism and cultural
tourism. There are four distinct areas designated
by relief, climate, flora and fauna, which are
reflected in Guinea's rich history and traditions
as follows: (a) Lower
Guinea &endash; which stretches along the Atlantic
Ocean shoreline as well as the mountains of Fouta
Djalon. It is a region of lush vegetation, dense
forests with giant trees as well as mangrove swamps
and coconut palms; (b) Offshore
Islands &endash; consisting of idyllic scenery with
miles of pristine sandy beaches and rivers with
broad estuaries. With easy access by boat, these
islands offer warm gentle breezes on beautiful
white sandy beaches for relaxation and recreational
activities; (c) Middle
Guinea &endash; which is made up of large mountains
and high plateaus, plus a temperate climate which,
has earned the area the title "Switzerland of
Africa". It is also known as the "Water Tower" of
western Africa because of the many rivers that
originates in this region. These flowing rivers and
churning rapids, hurtling down the mountains create
beautiful waterfalls; (d) Upper
Guinea &endash; which includes plateaus with
vegetation and wooded savannahs with a dry
climate. Guinea is
also known as West Africa's "water reservoir". The
particular feature of the Fouta Djalon mountain
range is that it is the source of and feeds, an
extraordinary number of rivers. The Tinkisso rises
to the north of Oure-Kaba, and flows towards the
Niger, which it meets at Siguiri. The same goes for
the Senegal, created by the confluence of the
Bafing and the Bakoye, and the Faleme, which meets
the Senegal several hundred kilometers downstream,
where the borders of Mali, Senegal and Mauritania
all converge. The Rivers Cogon, Colente, Fatala and
Konkoure, which all flow more rapidly into the
Atlantic Ocean, once earned the region the nickname
of "Land of Southern Rivers". Thanks to this major
river system, Guinea has the largest hydroelectric
reserves (6,600 MWh) in all of West
Africa. Guinea,
geographically situated on the West Coast of
Africa, is bordered on the northwest by
Guinea-Bissau and Senegal, on the northeast by
Mali, on the east by Cote D'Ivoire, on the
southeast by Liberia and Sierra Leone and on the
west by the Atlantic Ocean. Guinea is a land of
approximately 235,857 square miles with three
natural regions: swampy coastal plains along the
Atlantic Ocean shoreline, the extensive and rugged
Fouta Djalon mountain range which is crisscrossed
by deep valleys, and the huge plains to the east.
With its pleasant climate, varied topography,
abundant flora and fauna, Guinea is a true
representation of Western Africa. Guinea has a
tropical climate with regular and abundant
rainfall, as well as a plentiful and well-balanced
hydrographic system. The dry season is from
November to May and the rainy season is from May to
November and the climate changes with the altitude
of the country. The
principal languages are French, which is the
official language, along with Malinke, Fulani and
Soussou. Conakry-Gbessia is the name of the
international airport and Air Guinea is the
national airline. The currency is the Guinean Franc
(GNF) and 100 GNF = $0.075. With a population of
seven million, the people of Guinea are 90% Muslim
and almost 70% of the population lives in rural
areas. The economy of Guinea is primarily based on
the mining industry representing 35% of GDP with
bauxite (it is the world's number two producer),
iron ore, gold and diamond mining. Agriculture and
forestry represent 28% of the GDP with timber,
subsistence crops, livestock and fishing as the
major industry sectors. In
conclusion, while Guinea is still relatively
unknown to the majority of travelers for historic
reasons, a visit to Guinea has the potential to
offer all that can be expected and much more of an
African tour. Often fondly referred to as "the
Promised Land of Africa", Guinea is a land full of
coastlines sprinkled with splendid beaches,
luxurious forests, grand rivers, welcoming
mountains and game-filled savannahs, coupled with
wonderful people encompassing a rich and varied
culture of dancing, music, fashions and handicrafts
in their villages and marketplaces. In my opinion,
both first time visitors and experienced travelers
to Guinea will be thrilled at the multitude of
choices available. For more information about
visiting Guinea, please contact Helen C. Broadus
Toll-Free at 1-877-TO-VENUE [(301)
856-9188] or send me an e-mail at
vipinc@erols.com. About the
author: Helen C. Broadus is the President of
Venue International Professionals, Inc. (VIP)
&endash; an African-American owned full service
travel and tourism company based in the Washington
Metropolitan Area. VIP specializes in providing
escorted and customized travel and tourism packages
for individuals and groups interested in visiting
the African continent. She is also the Executive
Secretary of the Africa Travel Association (ATA)
and has conducted numerous travel and tourism
programs to more than twenty countries in Africa
over the past ten years. |
Guinea,
a country in West Africa with vast tourism
potential, has shaped African history while
conserving its uniquely distinct image. During the
African Middle Ages, Guinea was the center of
birth, the extension, and the successions of the
grand West African empires. Guinea, always
protective of it's liberty, was the last country to
be colonized in West Africa and the first to regain
its independence on October 2, 1958. In May of
2002, I had the distinct pleasure of visiting
Conakry, Guinea as a delegate to the Africa Travel
Association's (ATA) 27th Annual International
Congress. Overall, it was truly a fantastic
experience for everyone that attended the ATA
Congress, especially since this was the first time
that the ATA organization had the opportunity to
visit Guinea.