Tourisme Sans Frontière is a French non-governmental organization whose objective is to support emerging countries in appropriate tourism development for the benefit of local populations.
This organization currently operates in 25 countries scattered across Africa, Latin America, Asia and Oceania. Madagascar, more particularly the regions of SAVA and Boeny, is one of the beneficiary countries. During its general assembly held recently in France, the Big Island joined the Board of Directors of Tourisme Sans Frontière. The country is represented by the Western axis administrator of the Madagascar Tourism Confederation, who is also the PCA of the Boeny Regional Tourism Office, in the person of Eric Razafimaitra. “It all started when this organization was contacted by the city of Mulhouse in France, which established a partnership agreement with the city of Mahajanga in 2010. Tourisme Sans Frontière provided technical support to the Boeny Regional Tourist Office , not to mention its restructuring with a view to promoting this regional destination while ensuring tourist development”expressed this administrator of the Madagascar Tourism Confederation.
Training on tourism professions
It should be noted that Tourisme Sans Frontière, which aims to combat poverty by combining appropriate tourism and inclusive development, wishes to establish lasting partnerships with all local operators and public institutions on tourism development. The NGO is also committed to training local populations in the professions of local development, tourism, hotels and restaurants with a view to generating income and sustainable jobs. “On this point, we will do everything possible so that Madagascar can benefit from technical support in terms of training in the tourism, hotel and catering professions. Indeed, this constitutes a flaw in the development of the tourism sector in the country”raised Eric Razafimaitra. It should be remembered that the Ministry of Tourism and Crafts plans to attract one million tourists in 2028. The creation of at least 70,000 jobs is necessary to do this. “Our interventions with the Board of Directors of Tourisme Sans Frontière will thus be able to contribute to the achievement of this objective included in the general policy of the State by anticipating the arrival of this million tourists”he continued.
Small solidarity projects
It should also be noted that this PCA of ORT Boeny has worked hard to relaunch cooperation between Tourisme Sans Frontière and Madagascar in recent years. “Projects have been implemented thanks to the technical support offered by this organization, to name only the establishment of the existing tourist offer in the Boeny region. Training in guiding and tourism professions is also in sight”he mentioned. For the SAVA region, this organization supported the promotion and tourism development of the region while training guides in the Sambirano valley and contributing to the construction of an eco-lodge on site. “We will also spare no effort to achieve the realization of small solidarity projects in Madagascar with the support of Tourisme Sans Frontière. This organization is already committed to providing technical support to INTH with a view to strengthening human capital in the tourism sector”continued Eric Razafimaitra, who is still on mission in France to meet Tour Operators and issuing Travel Agencies with a view to promoting the Madagascar destination, in particular the Boeny destination. He held the same meeting with tourist operators in Geneva last week with the aim of establishing a partnership with Lemuria Tour, of which he is the manager.
Furthermore, Tourisme Sans Frontière initiated the Solidarissimo exhibition in Colmar, which has become an unmissable event for all of its partners. Madagascar and ORT Boeny actively participated. Antananarivo also hosted the 3e edition of the International Conference on sustainable tourism. These two events aim to promote emerging destinations while contributing to sustainable tourism development.
Navalona R.