The Tourism and Leisure Bureau of Côte d’Ivoire in Switzerland and Liechtenstein actively participated on September 16 in the Africa Showcase Mitteleuropa, held in Zurich, Switzerland. Representing the country at this event was Macaire Dagry, Director of the Bureau.

This annual gathering brings together African tourism offices and travel industry players with tour operators and travel agencies from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein.

"For Côte d’Ivoire, taking part in this event represents a strategic opportunity to position itself in the German-speaking market, known for its strong potential of high-spending travelers and its growing interest in Africa," stated the Ivorian representative, as quoted in an information note from the Bureau.

In reality, this professional platform offers a unique window into the world of tourism, allowing tourism offices, hoteliers, tour operators, and African service providers to showcase their tourism assets to a carefully selected group of buyers. For a country like Côte d’Ivoire, it is a golden opportunity to market itself internationally.

Of course, Côte d’Ivoire boasts no shortage of tourist attractions! Macaire Dagry’s objective was to promote the country’s tourism assets to industry professionals who, as he emphasized, rarely include West African destinations in their travel catalogs.

"With exceptional cultural diversity, outstanding natural heritage, an attractive coastline, and the emergence of sustainable and responsible tourism that highlights local communities and biodiversity preservation, Côte d’Ivoire has real assets to meet the expectations of demanding tourists in search of new experiences," the director stated.

During the event, the Ivorian Tourism Bureau Director also met with several stakeholders from well-established safari destinations such as Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zanzibar, South Africa, and Kenya.

According to the press release, many tour operators from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein expressed a desire to see new African destinations emerge capable of offering safari experiences, beyond the countries traditionally known for them.

For Macaire Dagry,

“This trend represents a tremendous opportunity for Côte d’Ivoire, which could eventually develop a solid strategy in this niche, leveraging its national parks (Comoé, Taï, Marahoué, Mont Sangbé...), all renowned for their exceptional biodiversity.”