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| The number of arrivals this year is expected to reach 300,000 visitors. |
Pull out all the stops. The plan of attack for the tourism sector in Madagascar is taking shape and is based around ways to attract large investors to develop tourism. This is what was developed yesterday by Christian Ntsay, head of government, before the deputies. “For this five-year term, the efforts made will be maintained. The tourism sector will focus more on how to attract more large investors, whether Malagasy or foreign,” he says. Indeed, the tourism sector will need more money to invest as we aim to increase the number of hotel infrastructure in the country.
Should we remember that the Big Island needs eleven thousand additional rooms to be able to accommodate visitors who are supposed to come to the country by 2028. Indeed, barring a dramatic turn of events of a health, financial or another, the country should, within five years, welcome its first million tourists. Until then, the strengthening and construction of new infrastructures, as well as the development of the various markets already acquired, both in tourism and in crafts, will be the guiding threads of the activities of the State and the supervisory ministry. “The new investment law should facilitate advocacy and negotiations with investors,” it says.
Source of income
Thus, guides on investments in the tourism sector will be published within a few months so that potential investors can have the data and statistics they will need to test the waters, or to get an idea of the potential of the Big island. Measures which will also prove very useful in saving jobs and creating thousands of others, in all areas of the tourism sector combined.
According to recent projections, this field of activity is expected to generate no less than one hundred thousand direct jobs. “Tourism and crafts are two complementary sectors. Tourists bring home souvenirs when they visit Madagascar. It is then perfectly possible to generate significant income from these sectors of activity,” explains the Prime Minister. In five years, crafts are also expected to generate two million people living directly or indirectly from this activity. This will have a major impact on the country’s gross domestic product, according to the explanations provided. This year, the number of visitors is projected to reach 300,000 arrivals.
Itamara Randriamamonjy