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Guinea Story
1. Land of Contrasts
2. Kindia, Mamou,
3. Labe, Mali Ville .
4. Slave Route..
5. Summary:
6.
Festival

Success Story
Air Routes
Ballets
Business Index
Conakry
Ecotourism
Fashions
History
Hotels
Map
Photos
Profile
Showcase
Tourism
Tour Operators
USA Trade

,



Profil de Guinée
Commerce
Electricité
la Mode
Ballets Africains
Media-Francais
Map Guinée
Congrès


REPUBLIC OF GUINEA EAGERLY WELCOMES TOURISM
by Helen C. Broadus

Guinea, a country in West Africa with vast tourism potential, has shaped African history while conserving its uniquely distinct image. During the African Middle Ages, Guinea was the center of birth, the extension, and the successions of the grand West African empires. Guinea, always protective of it's liberty, was the last country to be colonized in West Africa and the first to regain its independence on October 2, 1958. In May of 2002, I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Conakry, Guinea as a delegate to the Africa Travel Association's (ATA) 27th Annual International Congress. Overall, it was truly a fantastic experience for everyone that attended the ATA Congress, especially since this was the first time that the ATA organization had the opportunity to visit Guinea.

The theme of this ATA Congress was "Nature-Culture-Hospitality", which was most appropriate for this venue. The Novotel's Grand Hotel de L'Independence served as the ATA Congress headquarters hotel offering a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. Other major hotels include the Meridien and Sabena along with several private hotels offering quality services. My overall impression from my visit is that Guinea is truly a "melting pot" of ethnic groups with immense cultural diversity, which was a key attraction to ATA's membership. Our utmost congratulations to Madame Sylla Hadja Koumba Diakite, Minister of Tourism, Hotels and Handicrafts; Mr. Ibrahima Diallo, Director General, National Office of Tourism; and all of the members of the travel and tourism industry of the Republic of Guinea who worked so very hard to truly make this travel and tourism conference a complete success.

Conakry, the Capital City of Guinea with a population of slightly more than one million, is a bustling port city on the Atlantic Ocean full of sights and sounds for both the curious and the adventurous. In 2000, tourism accounted for an estimated 100,000 tourists visiting Guinea for approximately six million dollars. While the travel and tourism industry is just beginning to emerge in Guinea, there is tremendous opportunity for growth and development. Consequently, the Government of Guinea is eager to build up its capacity to encourage many more people to visit the country to experience the wide diversity of adventure tourism, cultural tourism, and eco-tourism attractions that it has to offer.

Part of UNESCO's historic "Slave Route", Guinea was the first African country to benefit from the program of rebuilding the historic sites on the slave route. On Host Country Day, ATA delegates had the opportunity to discover Guinea's "Unspoiled Africa". The full day tour, sponsored by the private sector, the Office of Promotion of Private Investment, took everyone on a scenic tour to Kindia, including a visit to Konkoure Falls with a festive luncheon at a private ranch belonging to the sponsor of the Host Day Program, El Hadj Mamadou Sylla. Here we also witnessed a marvel of nature made from two waterfalls known as the "Bride Veil" which attests to its natural charm creating a veil of water of exceptional beauty and whiteness.

Guinea, as stated earlier, is truly renowned for artistic and cultural diversity as exemplified by songs, dances and traditions. The highlight of the congress was viewing a special performance at an evening gala dinner featuring the Republic of Guinea's world renowned National Dance Company - Les Ballets Africains. As star entertainers and ambassadors of goodwill they are universally recognized as Africa's foremost touring dance company. Les Ballets Africains has been touring the world for more than fifty years presenting its inimitable blend of traditional dance, music and storytelling, laced with superb demonstrations of spectacle, acrobatics, comedy and drama. It was truly a remarkable performance, full of stunning energy and outstanding entertainment that left everyone truly amazed.

Guinea also exhibits an excellent opportunity toward the three emerging niche markets of African tourism, namely eco-tourism, adventure tourism and cultural tourism. There are four distinct areas designated by relief, climate, flora and fauna, which are reflected in Guinea's rich history and traditions as follows:

(a) Lower Guinea &endash; which stretches along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline as well as the mountains of Fouta Djalon. It is a region of lush vegetation, dense forests with giant trees as well as mangrove swamps and coconut palms;

(b) Offshore Islands &endash; consisting of idyllic scenery with miles of pristine sandy beaches and rivers with broad estuaries. With easy access by boat, these islands offer warm gentle breezes on beautiful white sandy beaches for relaxation and recreational activities;

(c) Middle Guinea &endash; which is made up of large mountains and high plateaus, plus a temperate climate which, has earned the area the title "Switzerland of Africa". It is also known as the "Water Tower" of western Africa because of the many rivers that originates in this region. These flowing rivers and churning rapids, hurtling down the mountains create beautiful waterfalls;

(d) Upper Guinea &endash; which includes plateaus with vegetation and wooded savannahs with a dry climate.

Guinea is also known as West Africa's "water reservoir". The particular feature of the Fouta Djalon mountain range is that it is the source of and feeds, an extraordinary number of rivers. The Tinkisso rises to the north of Oure-Kaba, and flows towards the Niger, which it meets at Siguiri. The same goes for the Senegal, created by the confluence of the Bafing and the Bakoye, and the Faleme, which meets the Senegal several hundred kilometers downstream, where the borders of Mali, Senegal and Mauritania all converge. The Rivers Cogon, Colente, Fatala and Konkoure, which all flow more rapidly into the Atlantic Ocean, once earned the region the nickname of "Land of Southern Rivers". Thanks to this major river system, Guinea has the largest hydroelectric reserves (6,600 MWh) in all of West Africa.

Guinea, geographically situated on the West Coast of Africa, is bordered on the northwest by Guinea-Bissau and Senegal, on the northeast by Mali, on the east by Cote D'Ivoire, on the southeast by Liberia and Sierra Leone and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Guinea is a land of approximately 235,857 square miles with three natural regions: swampy coastal plains along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline, the extensive and rugged Fouta Djalon mountain range which is crisscrossed by deep valleys, and the huge plains to the east. With its pleasant climate, varied topography, abundant flora and fauna, Guinea is a true representation of Western Africa. Guinea has a tropical climate with regular and abundant rainfall, as well as a plentiful and well-balanced hydrographic system. The dry season is from November to May and the rainy season is from May to November and the climate changes with the altitude of the country.

The principal languages are French, which is the official language, along with Malinke, Fulani and Soussou. Conakry-Gbessia is the name of the international airport and Air Guinea is the national airline. The currency is the Guinean Franc (GNF) and 100 GNF = $0.075. With a population of seven million, the people of Guinea are 90% Muslim and almost 70% of the population lives in rural areas. The economy of Guinea is primarily based on the mining industry representing 35% of GDP with bauxite (it is the world's number two producer), iron ore, gold and diamond mining. Agriculture and forestry represent 28% of the GDP with timber, subsistence crops, livestock and fishing as the major industry sectors.

In conclusion, while Guinea is still relatively unknown to the majority of travelers for historic reasons, a visit to Guinea has the potential to offer all that can be expected and much more of an African tour. Often fondly referred to as "the Promised Land of Africa", Guinea is a land full of coastlines sprinkled with splendid beaches, luxurious forests, grand rivers, welcoming mountains and game-filled savannahs, coupled with wonderful people encompassing a rich and varied culture of dancing, music, fashions and handicrafts in their villages and marketplaces. In my opinion, both first time visitors and experienced travelers to Guinea will be thrilled at the multitude of choices available. For more information about visiting Guinea, please contact Helen C. Broadus Toll-Free at 1-877-TO-VENUE [(301) 856-9188] or send me an e-mail at vipinc@erols.com.

About the author: Helen C. Broadus is the President of Venue International Professionals, Inc. (VIP) &endash; an African-American owned full service travel and tourism company based in the Washington Metropolitan Area. VIP specializes in providing escorted and customized travel and tourism packages for individuals and groups interested in visiting the African continent. She is also the Executive Secretary of the Africa Travel Association (ATA) and has conducted numerous travel and tourism programs to more than twenty countries in Africa over the past ten years.

REPUBLIC OF GUINEA: EAGERLY WELCOMES TOURISM

By Helen C. Broadus

Guinea, a country in West Africa with vast tourism potential, has shaped African history while conserving its uniquely distinct image. During the African Middle Ages, Guinea was the center of birth, the extension, and the successions of the grand West African empires. Guinea, always protective of it's liberty, was the last country to be colonized in West Africa and the first to regain its independence on October 2, 1958. In May of 2002, I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Conakry, Guinea as a delegate to the Africa Travel Association's (ATA) 27th Annual International Congress. Overall, it was truly a fantastic experience for everyone that attended the ATA Congress, especially since this was the first time that the ATA organization had the opportunity to visit Guinea.

The theme of this ATA Congress was "Nature-Culture-Hospitality", which was most appropriate for this venue. The Novotel's Grand Hotel de L'Independence served as the ATA Congress headquarters hotel offering a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. Other major hotels include the Meridien and Sabena along with several private hotels offering quality services. My overall impression from my visit is that Guinea is truly a "melting pot" of ethnic groups with immense cultural diversity, which was a key attraction to ATA's membership. Our utmost congratulations to Madame Sylla Hadja Koumba Diakite, Minister of Tourism, Hotels and Handicrafts; Mr. Ibrahima Diallo, Director General, National Office of Tourism; and all of the members of the travel and tourism industry of the Republic of Guinea who worked so very hard to truly make this travel and tourism conference a complete success.

Conakry, the Capital City of Guinea with a population of slightly more than one million, is a bustling port city on the Atlantic Ocean full of sights and sounds for both the curious and the adventurous. In 2000, tourism accounted for an estimated 100,000 tourists visiting Guinea for approximately six million dollars. While the travel and tourism industry is just beginning to emerge in Guinea, there is tremendous opportunity for growth and development. Consequently, the Government of Guinea is eager to build up its capacity to encourage many more people to visit the country to experience the wide diversity of adventure tourism, cultural tourism, and eco-tourism attractions that it has to offer.

Part of UNESCO's historic "Slave Route", Guinea was the first African country to benefit from the program of rebuilding the historic sites on the slave route. On Host Country Day, ATA delegates had the opportunity to discover Guinea's "Unspoiled Africa". The full day tour, sponsored by the private sector, the Office of Promotion of Private Investment, took everyone on a scenic tour to Kindia, including a visit to Konkoure Falls with a festive luncheon at a private ranch belonging to the sponsor of the Host Day Program, El Hadj Mamadou Sylla. Here we also witnessed a marvel of nature made from two waterfalls known as the "Bride Veil" which attests to its natural charm creating a veil of water of exceptional beauty and whiteness.

Guinea, as stated earlier, is truly renowned for artistic and cultural diversity as exemplified by songs, dances and traditions. The highlight of the congress was viewing a special performance at an evening gala dinner featuring the Republic of Guinea's world renowned National Dance Company - Les Ballets Africains. As star entertainers and ambassadors of goodwill they are universally recognized as Africa's foremost touring dance company. Les Ballets Africains has been touring the world for more than fifty years presenting its inimitable blend of traditional dance, music and storytelling, laced with superb demonstrations of spectacle, acrobatics, comedy and drama. It was truly a remarkable performance, full of stunning energy and outstanding entertainment that left everyone truly amazed.

Guinea also exhibits an excellent opportunity toward the three emerging niche markets of African tourism, namely eco-tourism, adventure tourism and cultural tourism. There are four distinct areas designated by relief, climate, flora and fauna, which are reflected in Guinea's rich history and traditions as follows:

(a) Lower Guinea &endash; which stretches along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline as well as the mountains of Fouta Djalon. It is a region of lush vegetation, dense forests with giant trees as well as mangrove swamps and coconut palms;

(b) Offshore Islands &endash; consisting of idyllic scenery with miles of pristine sandy beaches and rivers with broad estuaries. With easy access by boat, these islands offer warm gentle breezes on beautiful white sandy beaches for relaxation and recreational activities;

(c) Middle Guinea &endash; which is made up of large mountains and high plateaus, plus a temperate climate which, has earned the area the title "Switzerland of Africa". It is also known as the "Water Tower" of western Africa because of the many rivers that originates in this region. These flowing rivers and churning rapids, hurtling down the mountains create beautiful waterfalls;

(d) Upper Guinea &endash; which includes plateaus with vegetation and wooded savannahs with a dry climate.

Guinea is also known as West Africa's "water reservoir". The particular feature of the Fouta Djalon mountain range is that it is the source of and feeds, an extraordinary number of rivers. The Tinkisso rises to the north of Oure-Kaba, and flows towards the Niger, which it meets at Siguiri. The same goes for the Senegal, created by the confluence of the Bafing and the Bakoye, and the Faleme, which meets the Senegal several hundred kilometers downstream, where the borders of Mali, Senegal and Mauritania all converge. The Rivers Cogon, Colente, Fatala and Konkoure, which all flow more rapidly into the Atlantic Ocean, once earned the region the nickname of "Land of Southern Rivers". Thanks to this major river system, Guinea has the largest hydroelectric reserves (6,600 MWh) in all of West Africa.

Guinea, geographically situated on the West Coast of Africa, is bordered on the northwest by Guinea-Bissau and Senegal, on the northeast by Mali, on the east by Cote D'Ivoire, on the southeast by Liberia and Sierra Leone and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Guinea is a land of approximately 235,857 square miles with three natural regions: swampy coastal plains along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline, the extensive and rugged Fouta Djalon mountain range which is crisscrossed by deep valleys, and the huge plains to the east. With its pleasant climate, varied topography, abundant flora and fauna, Guinea is a true representation of Western Africa. Guinea has a tropical climate with regular and abundant rainfall, as well as a plentiful and well-balanced hydrographic system. The dry season is from November to May and the rainy season is from May to November and the climate changes with the altitude of the country.

The principal languages are French, which is the official language, along with Malinke, Fulani and Soussou. Conakry-Gbessia is the name of the international airport and Air Guinea is the national airline. The currency is the Guinean Franc (GNF) and 100 GNF = $0.075. With a population of seven million, the people of Guinea are 90% Muslim and almost 70% of the population lives in rural areas. The economy of Guinea is primarily based on the mining industry representing 35% of GDP with bauxite (it is the world's number two producer), iron ore, gold and diamond mining. Agriculture and forestry represent 28% of the GDP with timber, subsistence crops, livestock and fishing as the major industry sectors.

In conclusion, while Guinea is still relatively unknown to the majority of travelers for historic reasons, a visit to Guinea has the potential to offer all that can be expected and much more of an African tour. Often fondly referred to as "the Promised Land of Africa", Guinea is a land full of coastlines sprinkled with splendid beaches, luxurious forests, grand rivers, welcoming mountains and game-filled savannahs, coupled with wonderful people encompassing a rich and varied culture of dancing, music, fashions and handicrafts in their villages and marketplaces. In my opinion, both first time visitors and experienced travelers to Guinea will be thrilled at the multitude of choices available. For more information about visiting Guinea, please contact Helen C. Broadus Toll-Free at 1-877-TO-VENUE [(301) 856-9188] or send me an e-mail at vipinc@erols.com.

About the author: Helen C. Broadus is the President of Venue International Professionals, Inc. (VIP) &endash; an African-American owned full service travel and tourism company based in the Washington Metropolitan Area. VIP specializes in providing escorted and customized travel and tourism packages for individuals and groups interested in visiting the African continent. She is also the Executive Secretary of the Africa Travel Association (ATA) and has conducted numerous travel and tourism programs to more than twenty countries in Africa over the past ten years.