Business
Somalia could become the biggest tourism market in east Africa – UN
June 11, 2012 · 29 Comments
The town of Merca (Somali: Marka) on the Indian Ocean in the Lower Shabelle region, Somalia.
NAIROBI — Somalia could give its Eastern Africa neighbours a run for their money in tourism business if its internal conflict and piracy problems are contained, a UN report on regional sustainable tourism shows.
The report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa titled a study on the challenges and opportunities for tourism development says the country has the largest coastal belt in Africa, architectural heritage and beautiful pristine beaches that are great for tourism.
The report which was compiled last year but released officially last week however notes that war, perceptions of poor governance and Islamic fundamentalism and piracy have hampered the development of Somalia as a tourism destination. “Somalia tourism also includes the landmark of Shanghai old city. Presently controlled by the warlords and the wealthy businessmen, the city is known for its scenic beauty and the old architectural heritage,” states the report in part. “Another most sought after sightseeing spot in Somalia tourism is the Sinbusi beach, which is situated about five kilometres away from the city of Merca.”
The report lists some of the key untapped tourism business opportunities like eco-tourism, culture and cruise; expansion of air and water transportation; fairly modern and affordable ICT infrastructure. Relative stability in Somaliland and Puntland have also been listed as major entry areas in the exploitation of Somalia’s tourism business.
By virtue of offering similar tourist attractions, the report recommends a unified approach to Eastern Africa’s tourism development under the umbrella of a regional integration. It further suggests the development of of an Eastern Africa tourism master plan.
Adoption of an open skies policy in which even low budget airlines can easily operate flights within the region’s countries and adoption of a single tourist visa have also been proposed to drive growth for the sector. “This (single tourist visa) approach will enable free movement of tourists within the region. This is expected to be beneficial to new destinations in East Africa as they could leverage on the markets of the more mature destinations,” the report says.
Kenya which mostly markets itself as a safari and beach destination has faced fierce competition from its East African neighbours Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda as a result of some cases of insecurity. Tanzania and Uganda were even named as among the top 45 places to visit in the world in 2012 whereas Kenya was missing from the ranking despite having almost similar attractions.
The country’s war on the al Shabaab which was sparked by tourist kidnap cases at the Coast has freed several towns in Somalia from the terror group’s raid with reports of normalcy returning to some parts of Somalia.
The Star (Kenya)
June 11, 2012
Follow @somalilandpressBy Sahra Farah
Tags: Kenya, Merca, Puntland region, Somalia, Somaliland news, Tourism
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Hi hater !
mashallah i like good news like this, strongly believe if somalia didnt have a war in 1988 then somalia would defenetly have becomed the richest nation on africa and the to 15 richest countries in the world. kenya, Ethiopia and uganda should thank somalis for investing heavily on their countries as with out somalis most of these countries would be struggling.
Well, alhamdulillah there is war and great Somalia has never happened. Bravo! :D
It's true Somalia has a great potential to become a major tourism attractions in East Africa, if not, the whole Africa but we have to be realistic, Somali will never get a half decent government system that serves better for everyone any time soon.
There're a group of Somali politicians particularly Puntlanders who're determined to undermine any effort that is geared for a stability in Somalia. Those folks are pretty much preferred a continuous chaos and anarchy in Somalia is the way to go, because they strongly believe that their power and influence will instantly vanish in the thin air if Somalia goes back a mere normalcy. So, that's the fact.
Basically, Somali Politicians are a bunch of thieves and there's no honor among thieves.
Osman Qaal
change puntlanders to somalilandders and you will be not far from the truth.
honestly what can puntlanders gain from instability they can isolate like somaliland from the rest of somali chaos?
who is obestical somali unity not Puntlanders put folks like you who feel manority.so Take your little sick mind somewhere else no one is buying That.
osman5.
Maybe the blame is with the Hawiye clans, because if they wanted they could unite and have a single policy and this would go a long way to change Somalia's current position.
Maybe in 30 years……..
In 30 Years, your going to be knocking on my door asking how much for the Villa….If i were you I would buy now…
no one is waiting for "spoilers" for 30 years my friend somalis have enough and the world have enough.
i know some people will not happy with somali progress.
good luck to the somalians but us somalilanders can't be seduced by POTENTIAL it's better to be hungry and free than be barely fed yet abused as second class citizens
Somaliland independence is sacrosanct
somalia is always ready to welcome back thier long lost child with open hands…
I 'm beginning to dislike the word Somali. You may ask why or be shocked. I want to ask you this.: why Hargeisa burned and completely destroyed? why thousands of Somalilanders are killed and maimed ? why Somalia is divided? why we have the most brutal group in our history is controlling the south? why our people are starving when their land is fertile? why our people are refugees in their own land and in foreign lands?why forign troops are in our country? why pirates are rooming our seas and beyond? why brother is fighting a brother?
All are done in the name of Somalinimo. If that is what we got from that name then it is time to reject it.So to all those who are tooting this name tired horn it won't work for you. I can't be bitten from the same hole twice.
This is a person who lost all hope, be strong my somali brother.
Every nation in history has had thier time where everything went wrong. it takes time and effort to come back.
moemoney.
This person it’s not a somalia cirmeen completely Alien.
Who cares cirmeen or else what matters is the truth. I c him talking good commonsense
Cheers.
Somalia will become a major tourism attraction but it has long way to go. Today we need to come together and understand our unity benefits every single Somali. Its time to move forward.
Before you achieve unity you need trust, and before trust Somalis need to talk to each other openly, frankly and without alienating one another … mmmm maybe Kayse you could start the process! by stopping the insults and raising the blood pressure of some forum members :)
Viva somali kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Any one who thinks this is a good idea should research what tourist has done to the island Zanzibar and Kenya's coastal area. These areas are predominatly muslim but now these areas are settled by italian mafia, drug dealers and prostitution is daily norm. And if somalia opens the gates for tourist the country will be flooded by a tsunami of un-islamic vices which will transform somalia into destination of pleasure seekers, just like Thailand.
In 1988 there was an Old man. He took his family by foot, and while running for his life, he said a poem, that we witness today, and for the last 21 years. A phrase of his poem was "You did what you could to destroy my people, but there will be a day that you will all run to all directions as refugees, and your country will be concurred by GAFUUR CULUS, who will not care for you and your offspring". That is what is happening today to Wanlaweyns, and its true that God, the almighty listens the prayer of the oppressed person, when he so desperately asks for.
is the same thing happening to sooljoogto nomads today as the old man?
somalis never learn. let us see what happens
dauleh.
That was 1988 after That 1.7 million somalis dead so stop This jakuan keep repeating, somali people get sick of This whether north south central.
scaring people in This way will not work & can’t keep hostage people anymore.
There is no use in talking about potential when the reality is like a horror movie for Somalia. We can talk about potential here and potential there as much as we want but the truth is, the talk about potential means nothing to the skeleton looking Somali mother with a dying baby in her arms in a refugee camp somewhere in East Africa. There is no secret about the whole African continent's potential. Every economist and every journalist in the world talks about it. In our dark continent, there is every conceivable natural resource in great abundance yet we know how all the Africans live. In my opinion, it is not the potential of a land which is important but the human potential of the people living on that land. And in this regard, Somalis have no potential whatsoever. They have no hope. The potential of Somalia will either remain just 'potential' or will be exploited by others while the Somalis look on.
NON SENSE GO BACK TO YOUR CAVE.
Now that is a sesible comment that I can understand . A gent that can see the big picture of things. Almost a poet. This is how we should look at things. What knowledgable people call the common good. People need to put their defference aside when it comes to the common good. Peace is common good. Investment is common good. Education is common good. Roads and hospitals are common good.Building cities are C.good. Understanding your potenial and the potenial of your neighour is common good. Putting all of these together and seeing the big picture is how you visualize where you will be in the next ten years. Making war is not in the common good. Having said all that, when you faced with evilish Faq666sh you have no time to look at potenial. But thank you brother for reminding me of senseble and right thought.
WHAT A FULL OF NON SENSE GO BACK TO YOUR DARK CAVES.
the city is beautiful masha'allah
what are you tlking about, the place is an eyesoure