TOURISM IN TCHAD

TOURISM IN TCHAD

Tourism development supported by growth in the country’s economy

Despite political instability in the region, Chad registered a good economic performance, with GDP growth of 7.2%, in 2012 and a projected increase of 7.4% in 2013. Growth in oil production should boost export revenue over the forecast period and could help finance the government’s public investment plan, as part of its strategy to make Chad an emerging economy. Tourism in Chad is a relatively minor industry, yet the government is increasingly taking steps to direct its energies and resources towards the growth and diversification of the country’s travel products, improving infrastructure and travel accommodation, as well as investing in programs to attract tourists. The country has been present at different tourism exhibitions and had outstanding visibility at the African Fare in Paris in April 2013 with the French president participating in the event.

Boom in travel accommodation supported by business tourism

After oil extraction and production companies were installed in the country, increased business exchange led to the further development of travel accommodation; in particular, several hotels were opened to satisfy the expectations of international travellers. Following a government plan at the end of 2011, the country has focused its attention on the development of a new quarter in the capital city N’Djamena, with the construction of new luxury hotels starting in 2012.

Transport infrastructure becomes a priority for the government

Problems with air companies (lack of licences and frequent crashes), underdeveloped paved roads and a lack of a driving culture make usage of transportation troubled in Chad, with it requiring more investment. In September 2012, the government received subsidies from the African Development Bank to provide asphalt coverage to roads from Ndjamena to Sarh and from Koumra to Sarh. At the beginning of 2013, new meetings with ministers were organised to encourage investors to plough money into the transport infrastructure. More projects are expected to continue the trend in future.

Saharan tourism potential

Chad offers great potential for Saharan tourism due to its landlocked nature, including a wealth of outstanding natural and cultural heritage. The country possesses substantial natural attractions, presenting a rich array of unique landscapes. However, most areas have remained underexploited due to the nation’s geographical remoteness and poor transportation infrastructure. The major area of desert tourism in Chad is the Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti (BET) region in the northern part of the country, which boasts plenty of noteworthy attractions such as sand dunes and Saharan fauna. This area is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of Chad and is a jewel among the world’s desert landscapes. As a result, the Chadian government needs to place emphasis on the development of Saharan tourism, a niche category that is becoming the principal attraction for the few tourists which visit the country.

Ecotourism is still not a priority for the country

Thanks to protection by the Chadian government and the European Union, the 754,000-acre Zakouma National Park was announced by Lonely Planet as one of the best places to see wildlife in Central Africa. The Chadian government needs to continue investing in and conserving natural resources for the benefit of not only the local population but also to transform tourism potential into a profitable industry. Strong emphasis must be placed on ecotourism development due to the country’s fabulous flora and fauna.

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Overview

Discover the latest market trends and uncover sources of future market growth for the Travel and Tourism industry in Chad with research from Euromonitor's team of in-country analysts.

Find hidden opportunities in the most current research data available, understand competitive threats with our detailed market analysis, and plan your corporate strategy with our expert qualitative analysis and growth projections.

If you're in the Travel and Tourism industry in Chad, our research will save you time and money while empowering you to make informed, profitable decisions.

When you purchase this report, you also get the data and the content from these category reports in Chad for free:

• Car Rental
• Health and Wellness Tourism
• Tourism Flows Domestic
• Tourism Flows Inbound
• Tourism Flows Outbound
• Tourist Attractions
• Transportation
• Travel Accommodation
• Travel Retail

·       The Top 6: What to Do in Chad

1. Lake Chad: Once one of the world’s largest lakes, almost as large as the Caspian Sea, Lake Chad has been affected more drastically by climate change than almost any other place on the African continent or in the world. As the region’s seasonal monsoons have changed course and farmers have used more water for irrigation, Lake Chad has shrunk to 5 percent of its former size in only 35 years. Despite the changes, it remains a popular fishing and boating spot. See it because it’s beautiful, see it because it’s off the beaten track, see it for the catfish, but see it soon—because in ten years it might be gone.

2. Markets: N’Djamena has excellent shopping for tourists, and the best place to find carpets, clothing, tropical fruit, carvings, and more is the open-air market in the historic quarter of the city. The market, which operates daily from dawn to dusk, serves as a kind of magnet for the city’s knickknacks, but to find the choicest art and the good deals, you’ll have to sift through all manner of junk. Doing so in itself is an adventure, though, and the market affords some of the city’s best people watching as locals sell, haggle, and socialize.

3. N’Djamena’s Central Mosque: The architectural, social, and religious center of N’Djamena, the central mosque can be seen from many parts of town. In addition to the mosque itself, the complex has a library, a lecture hall, and two schools, although visitors should be able to speak Chadian Arabic if they hope to benefit much from these facilities.

4. Stroll in N’Djamena: It may lack the tourist infrastructure of Dakar or Nairobi, but N’Djamena positively buzzes with life, and even if you spend less time at museums and monuments, you’ll learn just as much by observing the people around you. One of the best places to do that is Avenue Charles de Gaulle, lined with embassies, high-end restaurants, and Victorian homes that recall Chad’s days of European rule.

5. Tibesti Mountains: Although travel to the Tibesti Mountains is both difficult and dangerous at this time, the area has a stark, dramatic landscape of canyons and sheer rock faces topped by forest. The Toubou tribe still lives traditionally in villages within the range but tends to be hostile to visitors.

6. Zakouma National Park: Poaching remains a problem in the park. The Chadian government and the European Union have recently restocked it, though, and it is once again one of the best places to spot herds of elephants, as well as wildebeests, antelopes, and lions.

REFERENCE

http://wikitravel.org/en/Chad