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Central Africa Republic: Central African Republic Tourism Profile

2015/02/27

Central African Republic

 

Instability and violence continue to tarnish Central African Republic’s travel and tourism

Central African Republic has continued to be a poor and unstable country since its independence from France in 1960. A national unity government was established in 2009 from two rebel leaders, but pockets of rebel activity continue across the country, with insurgents from neighbouring Uganda, the Lord’s Resistance Army, operating in Central African Republic, inclunding conflicts in Sudan, Chad and Congo, Democratic Republic overspilling their borders. Furthermore, the country has recently been thrown into chaos since the Seleka rebels seized power from President Francois Bozize in April 2013, causing a humanitarian crisis in the country. The country is extremely undeveloped and the majority of the people live in poverty

Business leads the way in tourism flows

The security situation, combined with a lack of funding, has hampered travel and tourism development within the country. Despite possessing natural attractions, the number of inbound visitors remains extremely low, comprising largely business visitors, a lot of of whom are aid and conservation workers. A lot of nations, inclunding the US, UK and Canada, have warnings against all travel to the country. As a result, travel and tourism is facing an uphill struggle in the country to attract visitors, combined with inadequate facilities on the ground.

Air remains the key category for travel and tourism

In terms of mode of transportation, the roads remain a dangerous environment for tourists and they prefer to limit their visit only to the key cities of the country. Only about 20% of the country’s total routes are paved, inclunding roads between Bangui and Bossembele, Bangui and Sibut and between Bangui and M’Baiiki. Air transportation so far is the key travel mode for tourists arriving and leaving the country.

National parks provide ecotourism potential

The country has four national parks with fantastic natural attractions, and it is hoped that they can be the key to successful sustainable tourism for the country. Features include waterfalls near the capital city Bangui, primate safaris for gorilla-watching, elephants, rhinoceros and buffaloes, inclunding pristine rainforests in untouched settings. Ecotourism has become the tourism focus for a lot of nations in this region, and Central African Republic risks missing out on development and gain opportunities while the instability continues. However, the country is working closely with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation to develop its ecotourism offerings.

Foreign investment , a key source for next tourism development

As some international nations are highly alarmed about the situation in Central African Republic, experts can look only at foreign investments coming next international intervention to calm down the political situation and to establish a trusted climate for business. One such channel is CEMAC (Communauté Economique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale, Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa). The intervention was launched in April 2013 to provide peace to the country, but it was not successful. France remains one of the key mediators for the economic and political partners within the country and outside its borders.

Instability and violence continue to tarnish Central African Republic’s travel and tourism

Central African Republic has continued to be a poor and unstable country since its independence from France in 1960. A national unity government was established in 2009 from two rebel leaders, but pockets of rebel activity continue across the country, with insurgents from neighbouring Uganda, the Lord’s Resistance Army, operating in Central African Republic, inclunding conflicts in Sudan, Chad and Congo, Democratic Republic overspilling their borders. Furthermore, the country has recently been thrown into chaos since the Seleka rebels seized power from President Francois Bozize in April 2013, causing a humanitarian crisis in the country. The country is extremely undeveloped and the majority of the people live in poverty

Business leads the way in tourism flows

The security situation, combined with a lack of funding, has hampered travel and tourism development within the country. Despite possessing natural attractions, the number of inbound visitors remains extremely low, comprising largely business visitors, a lot of of whom are aid and conservation workers. A lot of nations, inclunding the US, UK and Canada, have warnings against all travel to the country. As a result, travel and tourism is facing an uphill struggle in the country to attract visitors, combined with inadequate facilities on the ground.
Air remains the key category for travel and tourism

In terms of mode of transportation, the roads remain a dangerous environment for tourists and they prefer to limit their visit only to the key cities of the country. Only about 20% of the country’s total routes are paved, inclunding roads between Bangui and Bossembele, Bangui and Sibut and between Bangui and M’Baiiki. Air transportation so far is the key travel mode for tourists arriving and leaving the country.

National parks provide ecotourism potential

The country has four national parks with fantastic natural attractions, and it is hoped that they can be the key to successful sustainable tourism for the country. Features include waterfalls near the capital city Bangui, primate safaris for gorilla-watching, elephants, rhinoceros and buffaloes, inclunding pristine rainforests in untouched settings. Ecotourism has become the tourism focus for a lot of nations in this region, and Central African Republic risks missing out on development and gain opportunities while the instability continues. However, the country is working closely with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation to develop its ecotourism offerings.

Foreign investment , a key source for next tourism development

As some international nations are highly alarmed about the situation in Central African Republic, experts can look only at foreign investments coming next international intervention to calm down the political situation and to establish a trusted climate for business. One such channel is CEMAC (Communauté Economique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale, Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa). The intervention was launched in April 2013 to provide peace to the country, but it was not successful. France remains one of the key mediators for the economic and political partners within the country and outside its borders.

Political Unrest Affects Travel and Tourism

Central African Republic (CAR) has not been a particularly safe travel destination, due to its history of political turmoil and regional internal conflicts. The continued wave of violence over recent years, particularly in the northern and north-western parts of the country, inclunding fighting in neighbouring nations, has negatively impacted the increase of CAR’s travel and tourism industry, whose infrastructure is almost non-existent as a result. Despite all the unrest, landlocked CAR is still blessed with diverse natural landscapes, inclunding savannah, desert, forest and river basins. Aside from the interesting cities such as Bangui, the biggest tourist attraction is the Dzanga-Sangha National Park, replete with all kinds of wildlife.

Tourist Numbers Down in 2008 Due to Insecurity

CAR’s inbound tourism has been suffering as a result of declining security conditions and political turmoil caused by an escalation of violence between government forces and armed rebel groups. In 2008, there was a decline of over 4% in arrivals due to the high degree of insecurity caused by rebel activities across a number of areas in the country. A lot of tourist attractions have been deemed off limits as a result of the violence. The governments of a significant number of Western nations issued travel warnings for CAR, advising travellers to keep away from the country due to unstable security conditions. Even with government efforts to stabilise the country, tourists are expected to continue to remain away if their safety cannot be guaranteed.

Very Few International Players Operate in the Market

Most of CAR’s tourism infrastructure has remained underdeveloped due to numerous armed insurrections, which have seen the country taken off the map in terms of foreign investment . Tourists, particularly from overseas, have as well been kept away. This has resulted in just a few multinational brands operating in CAR’s travel and tourism industry. Avis (car rental) and Air France (transportation) are the only multinational companies operating in the territory. The travel retail and travel accommodation sectors consist primarily of domestic players. In order to revitalise the flagging industry and attract foreign investment , the government needs to take measures that will bring peace, order and stability to the country.

Ecotourism Potential

Ecotourism is beginning to emerge as an significant trend in CAR and is perceived to be the majority sustainable approach to the country’s tourism development. CAR’s strategy for ecotourism is influenced by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), which has been working on numerous projects in the Congo Basin region. The aim of these initiatives is to encourage the development of tourism and the conservation of the environment in regions where the lack of major tourism infrastructure and road access has allowed most of the natural habitats to remain unspoiled. One interesting site for ecotourism in this region is the Dzanga-Sangha National Park, an ancient rainforest in the south-western part of CAR. The government has as well placed a strong emphasis on the development of ecotourism, which is becoming the principal attraction for the few, mainly European, tourists who visit the country.
 

Peace Building and Economic Development

CAR is ranked part the 10 poorest nations in the world. A lot of years of violence and insecurity has turned the country into a phantom national. However, it is believed that the long-awaited political dialogue that finally took place in late 2008 could help the country to emerge from its enduring crisis. The dialogue, which was focused on politics and governance, security and armed groups, inclunding socio-economic development, may bring peace and stability to CAR someday. However, there is no guarantee that peace can be restored for long enough to allow a return to meaningful political stability, given previous events, particularly in terms of politics.
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