Burundi, International Tourism Day 2014

Every year on 27th of September, the international community celebrates the World Tourism Day dedicated to tourism under a common theme. The theme for this year is Tourism and Community Development.

The celebration of this day in Burundi aims at sensitizing people on the importance of tourism sector in the country’s development.

The Government of Burundi is committed to develop the tourism sector known as a pillar of a socio economic growth and a key player in peace consolidation. In fact, a National Strategy for a Sustainable Development of Tourism resulting from a plan of activities 2013-2016, has been set up and is currently being implemented.

Hence, the Government of Burundi has actually enhanced the National Tourism Office by restructuring it from a single Directorate into a Directorate General.

In the goal of promoting the tourism sector, promotion items have been produced. Medias, National Tourism office website www.burundi-tourism.com, social Medias, participation in different international fairs and being part of event organizers (Fashion Week, FESTICAB, Bujumbura Marathon 1st edition...) are some of the preferred means used so far to promote Burundi tourism.

There have been workshops of sensitization on classification of tourist infrastructures in compliance with East African Community standards and training for hotel employees namely waiters and receptionists.

Moreover, the National Tourism Office is implementing a project named “Sustainable Tourism-Poverty Eradication” comprising two sections: training in hotels services and tourist guides as well as supporting a development of small and medium enterprises operating in tourism sector.

We are proud of Statistical inputs at Bujumbura international airport which have doubled in the first quarter of 2014 comparing to those of 2011.

Available indicators show that the turnover generated from tourism sector in 2009 is $ 19,560,382. The share allocated to tax and helping to figure out the added value of companies’ output is $16,974,382. This represents an income from hotels and restaurants, tour operators together with travel agencies and other tourist activities.

Tourism sector is one of the economic sectors with a fastest growth in the world. It is a sector requiring a great deal of manpower. It is also an important gear of development and job creation especially for those who hardly access to employment namely women, youth and rural population.

In Burundi, hotels take 87 percent of the total of structured and measurable employment in the sector.

World Tourism Day celebration in Burundi is also the occasion to analyze the tourism sector’s opportunities; challenges, weaknesses and opportunities for its improvement. Stakeholders will determine the prominent place of tourism to reduce and even eradicate poverty prevailing in our country.