Tourism in Benin

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Tourism in Benin is a small industry. [1] In 1996, Benin had approximately 150,000 tourists. [2] By 2014 number rose to 242,000. A small country with a high concentration of tourist attractions, [3] Benin's national parks and culture are among its main tourist attractions. [2] Abomey is one of Benin's main tourist attractions, with palaces that became a World Heritage Site in 1982. [1] The capital city Porto Novo's attractions include its museums and architecture. [1]

Cotonou is the only international airport in Benin. [1] There are direct flights to Benin from Belgium, France, and a number of African countries. [4] There are 578 kilometres of railroad in the country, which were developed under a joint effort with the Republic of Niger. [5]

Benin's government regards tourism as a method of diversifying its economy, attracting more foreign investment, and decreasing Benin's dependence on its agricultural industry. [5] [6] Although the government has a National Policy of Tourism Development, it has not made a strong effort to improve tourist facilities or to market Benin as a tourist destination. [6]

Some of the best wildlife areas in West Africa are found in north Benin, where Pendjari National Park and W National Park are located. [7] The best time to see the Pendjari National Park's wildlife is towards the end of the dry season. [8] The park is accessible to travellers and accommodation is available. W National Park is located in Benin's far north, and stretches across Burkina Faso and Niger. The park has a wealth of wildlife, but is difficult to access from Benin. [7]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Williams, Stephen, Dec 2002, Benin: The belly of history, African History.
  2. 1 2 Taylor & Francis Group, 2003, Africa South of the Sahara 2004, Routledge, ISBN   1-85743-183-9, page 88.
  3. Benin: Overview, Lonely Planet
  4. Benin: Getting there & around, Lonely Planet
  5. 1 2 Leonard, Thomas M., 2006, Encyclopedia of the Developing World, Taylor & Francis, ISBN   0-415-97662-6, page 198.
  6. 1 2 Travel and Tourism in Benin, Euromonitor.
  7. 1 2 Hudgens, Jim, 2003, The Rough Guide to West Africa , Rough Guides, ISBN   1-84353-118-6, page 927.
  8. Benin: Sights, Lonely Planet.