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'NATURE - CULTURE - HOSPITALITY"
by Ibrahima Diallo

Guinea is a country that has shaped history while conserving its distinctions. Intersection of civilizations of the African Middle Ages, the country was the center of birth, the extension, and the successions of the grand West African empires. Guinea, always protective of its liberty, was the last to be colonized in West Africa and the first to recuperate its independence on 2 October, 1958. "We prefer liberty in poverty to riches in slavery" moved Africans everywhere in this historic choice affirmed to the world in August, 1958.

Guinea is a geological scandal. It is blessed with rich soil and is the water tower of West Africa because of its natural water capacity. Guinea possesses an immense touristic potential. C. Ceriser identified it in 1890 as "The promised land of Africa." And the Comte de Sanderval, French explorer describes Guinea as follows, "Country of rivers. I was taken by your brilliant clouds, ribbons that cut across cotton, your immense green spaces, so powerful and not hostile,. I climbed your welcoming mountains and looked at your grand rivers populated with alligators. I penetrated your smothering forests. Where sacred dancing finds its frenzy, elsewhere still, I encountered your handsome robed men overseeing their herds. And above all, I saw lightning and the thunder and the gray curtain of rain tumble."

From the coasts sprinkled with splendid beaches to the luxurious forest region to the rich and varied folklore of the gam-filled savannas of Upper Guinea across the Djolibu (Niger River) from fifteenth century fortresses to the magnificent countryside of the Futa Djallon with its micro- climate, Guinea is a country that synthesized West Africa.

Guinea, rich in colors, in emotion, she is also in attractions. Fruits and vegetables ripen in the sun, without chemical products. This natural and extremely varied and exceptionally charming heritage adds an important artistic and cultural richness: the authenticity of different cultures with their songs, dances and traditions, the rich artisanal patrimony, etc.

The Sossobala (sacred balafon) of Medieval Guinea of the 10th century) and warm blooded frogs unique to Mount Nimba (the highest summit of West Africa) are part of the world's heritage.

Guinea is also the capital of drumming and percussion. In all of this, it is necessary to add the smile, the smile of welcome and hope of the Guinea (children, women an d men). this is guinea!

Travel Agencies already selling the destination's Touristic attractions offer the opportunity to tour the country and go into provincial guinea.

Chain hotels (Novotel, Meridien, Sabena) and private hotels offer quality services in the capital city of Conakry and in many cities in the country.

Guinea has got a rich fauna and potential that has promoted game hunting and fishing.

The holding of the 'ATA congress and Symposium in Conakry from the 28th April through the 3rd May, 2002, will be both and event and a discovery. The discovery of a new destinations that represents the geographical and cultural syntheses of West Africa sub-region.

Guinea is also the revisited historical past and one of the great memories of Africa. It revives the heartstrings of the slave trade through its renowned and dreary slave routes as well as the vestiges of the resistance to colonial penetration.

Guinea is still unknown to the majority of people for historic reasons; she has not sought to sell her attractions until recently: is this a chance to better conserve the country's heritage and protect the environment, the condition necessary for authentic tourism, adored by the majority of visitors?

In any case, the data clearly demonstrates that nature and hospitality can be exploited with method and talent. To arrive there, one needs a vision that surpasses and largely, only investment and shapes the politics of tourism that is a goods fit in adhering the population to project that concern the environment and also succeed in having tourism contribute to economic and social development.

Justly, the national politics of tourism as already defined, have succeeded in elaborating and putting in working order a Strategic Plan of Sustainable Development of Tourism (SPSDT) with the assistance of UNDP and the WTO.

This is to day that Guinea is on the right track.

With the Africa Travel Association 2002, there is an invitation to travel and discover Guinea.

Come, you will discover it, you will appreciate it, you will adopt it because nature and hospitality wait for you here.

Ibrahima Diallo
General Manager