Tourism Entrepreneurs Convene in Ouagadougou to Discuss Resilience Amid Security Crisis

OUAGADOUGOU — In the 13th edition of the Ouagadougou International Tourism and Hospitality Exhibition (SITHO) and the Ouagadougou Tourism, Hospitality and Catering Showcase (VITHRO), tourism entrepreneurs gathered on Friday, October 27, 2023, to deliberate on the resilience of the sector amid the ongoing security crisis in Burkina Faso.

According to a new release by Burkina Information Agency, three key presentations centered around the theme “The tourism entrepreneur and resilience in the face of the security crisis.” The first communication was by Noufou Compaoré, manager of a hunting tourist site and promoter of Savana Pizza. Compaoré stressed the need to expand customer reach to the United States, Asia, and Europe. He proposed the construction of hotel infrastructure adjacent to hunting sites tailored to the needs of foreign tourists.

Compaoré also discussed tripartite collaborations between the State, concessionaires, and local populations to curb poaching. He revealed that 50% of the income from these hunting sites is given back to local communities to incentivize the protection of wildlife. “We had signed contracts for the coming season. It was necessary to hire lawyers to reimburse these contracts. So we are forced to receive tourists who had already paid deposits,” he added. In terms of new offerings, Compaoré suggested the promotion of taxidermy.

Raouf Tiendrebeogo, the head receptionist of Lancaster Hôtel Ouaga 2000, focused on the hotel’s security measures. “Every tourist needs security and the State supports us accordingly. The hotel is guarded by the Gendarmerie Brigade but in addition, it is necessary to double the number of security guards and reinforce video surveillance and there are costs,” he explained. He also mentioned the digitalization of payment methods and secured Wi-Fi as part of the security measures.

Tiendrebeogo went on to say that maintaining an online presence through social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram is an investment. The hotel has partnered with private clinics to provide on-site medical consultations for unwell guests.

The President of the Association of Chefs of Burkina Faso, Benjamin Lucien Compaoré, talked about the challenges faced by restaurateurs. Despite the increasing costs of raw materials, they are committed to providing both quantity and quality to retain customers.

The SITHO-VITHRO 2023 event commenced on October 26 and will run until October 29 in the capital of Burkina Faso.