In tourism as elsewhere, times if not fashions change. And certain countries which at one time could appear as essential or at least promising on the global tourist market, are today only a shadow of themselves in terms of attraction or attendance.
Without being victims of wars or problems which completely close off the coming to visitors, some have simply lost their interest, at least in the eyes of French or European tourists, sometimes simply replaced by other more or less similar destinations which have did better in the game…
Today, head to the Indian Ocean with the “Red Island” better known as Madagascar.
A destination not easy but with an audience
It’s true that Madagascar has never been an easy or very touristy destination, even if its northern coast saw seaside and all-inclusive tourism flourish for a time in places like the island of Nosy Bé. Dream landscapes, sublime beaches and a timeless side that has everything to seduce.
And then for others, or between two seaside stays, “Mada” was also and above all synonymous with a land of adventure and discoveries, both cultural and natural.
The high plateaus, mountains, canyons and lakes galore, around thirty parks and nature reserves, unique places like these famous tsingy (impressive karst reliefs) or the famous “Allée des baobabs”, incredible fauna and flora and many other places and things, everything was there to make the experience unique. Even if it deserved it.
In short, although not an easy destination, Madagascar has always had a public made up of French people, many of whom come from neighboring Reunion Island. Each year there are around 250,000 foreign visitors there.
Except that today tourism is no longer necessarily in great shape on the island even if we feel a certain tremor in this area in recent months.
So it’s true that, as already said, traveling to Mada has never been easy. Between a glaring lack of infrastructure and equipment, slow and limited transport, more than visible insecurity, including in terms of health, and a “socio-economic-political” situation always ready to tip over at the slightest spark, nothing has ever been simple there for the traveler and even less so for the population. Hence an image that is not necessarily the most positive outside the borders and a tourist sector that has always been weakened… which will have experienced its final blow with the Covid.
Because more than in many other countries, with the pandemic, the borders here will have remained closed for a long time without tourism or other businesses having been really supported, in fact leading to a snowball phenomenon at the level of this sector of activity and more broadly the country’s economy.
At the same time, it must also be said that times and desires have changed and that competition is tougher these days. As a result, the side (really) “roots” of a trip to Madagascar no longer really appeals in a world where uncertainty and fear must disappear from our lives, including especially when it comes to vacations.
In short, even if the country remains endearing and full of natural tourist attractions, the accumulation of problems of all kinds over the years has meant that today the country is starting a long way back. And that the rebound of tourism on the island remains a very complex challenge to overcome which may take more time before the sector restarts as it should…