Tourism in Djibouti

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The foreign tourist days in Djibouti, 2013 Foreign tourist days in Djibouti.png
The foreign tourist days in Djibouti, 2013

Tourism in Djibouti is one of the growing economic sectors of the country and is an industry that generates 53,000 and 73,000 arrivals per year, with its favorable beaches and climate and also including islands and beaches in the Gulf of Tadjoura and the Bab al-Mandab. [1] The main tourist activities are scuba diving, fishing, trekking and hiking, discovering the nomadic way, bird watching, and sun, sea and sand.

Contents

Overview

The town of Ali Sabieh, with the Red Mountains in the distance View of Ali Sabieh.JPG
The town of Ali Sabieh, with the Red Mountains in the distance

At Goubbet-al-Kharab, near the western end of the Gulf of Tadjoura, there are steep cliffs and a bay that was turned dark green by black lava. A number of active volcanoes are located inland from here. Another popular tourist attraction is the Day Forest National Park for conserving rare trees on Mount Goda. Near the town of Ali Sabieh are famously red mountains and a national park full of many gazelles. [2] The coastal plains, mountain ranges, and volcanic plateaus of the country make a picturesque sight. Some popular local attractions include the Presidential Palace, the Central Market, Maskali Islands, Moucha Island, Lake Abbe and Lake Assal. The coastlines of Djibouti harbor many stretches of beaches that are frequented by sun bathers and other visitors.

The Djiboutian government, realizing the great potential of development of national tourism, takes a variety of measures for this - for example, the maximum mode facilitating foreign investment in tourism infrastructure. Priority is given to the construction of hotels and the construction of roads that meet the latest international standards. [ citation needed ]

Regulation

The tourist industry in Djibouti is regulated by the Ministry of Commerce and Tourism. [3] According to the UNWTO, the annual number of tourists visiting the country is uncertain. However, international tourism locally generated $21 million USD in revenue in 2012. [4]

Arrivals by country

View on the Moucha Island. Mouchisldjib.jpg
View on the Moucha Island.

According to Office National du Tourisme de Djibouti (ONTD) figures, almost half of all visitors, or 48%, came from France, with 21% arriving from other European countries. The third-largest group came from Gulf states. Visitors from Africa represented just 6%, with the majority of them coming from Ethiopia. Finally, visitors from Asia and North America represented minor percentages at 5% and 3%, respectively. [5]

Attractions

The People's Palace. The People's Palace, Djibouti City.jpg
The People's Palace.
Dromedary Tibs served at a restaurant in Djibouti. Camel tibs in Djibouti.jpg
Dromedary Tibs served at a restaurant in Djibouti.

Djibouti has a number of local attractions, consisting of historical sites, National Park, beaches and mountain ranges.

Local attractions

Day Forest National Park

Near Randa. Randa Mountain Side.png
Near Randa.

Day Forest National Park established in 1939, protects the Goda Mountains. and also is the largest forest in Djibouti.

Foods

Djibouti has many popular restaurants serving their local foods to tourists. [7]

Historical sites

Beaches

The Khor Ambado beachside. 07 khor ambado.jpg
The Khor Ambado beachside.

Mountain ranges

Islands

Lake Abbe. Abbe-8.jpg
Lake Abbe.

Salt lakes

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Djibouti</span>

Djibouti is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. To the east is its coastline on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Rainfall is sparse, and most of the territory has a semi-arid to arid environment. Lake Assal is a saline lake which lies 155 m (509 ft) below sea level, making it the lowest point on land in Africa and the third-lowest point on Earth after the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. Djibouti has the fifth smallest population in Africa. Djibouti's major settlements include the capital Djibouti City, the port towns of Tadjoura and Obock, and the southern cities of Ali Sabieh and Dikhil. It is the forty-six country by area in Africa and 147st largest country in the world by land area, covering a total of 23,200 km2 (9,000 sq mi), of which 23,180 km2 (8,950 sq mi) is land and 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi) is water.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tadjourah Region</span> Region of Djibouti

The Tadjourah Region Somali: Gobolka Tajoora, Afar: Rakaakay Tagórri) is a region in north-central Djibouti, the largest of its six regions. With its capital at Tadjourah, it has an area of 7,100 square kilometres. It lies along the Gulf of Tadjoura, and the coastal city of Tadjoura. The region has active salt and fisheries industries, and is served by the Tadjoura Airport. In total area, it is larger than Brunei and smaller than Cyprus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obock Region</span> Region of Djibouti

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Djibouti (city)</span> Capital and the largest city of Djibouti

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf of Tadjoura</span> Gulf of the Indian Ocean in the Horn of Africa

The Gulf of Tadjoura is a gulf or basin of the Indian Ocean in the Horn of Africa. It lies south of the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, or the entrance to the Red Sea, at 11.7°N 43.0°E. The gulf has many fishing grounds, extensive coral reefs, and abundant pearl oysters. Most of its coastline is the territory of Djibouti, except for a short stretch on the southern shore, which is part of the territory of Somaliland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goda Mountains</span>

The Goda Mountains lie northwest of the Gulf of Tadjoura, Tadjoura Region in Djibouti. They rise to 1,750 metres (5,740 ft) above sea level and are the nation's largest heavily vegetated area and is the second highest point in Djibouti. The name Goda in Afar means "twisted" or "devoured" and refers to a ridge. A part of the mountains is protected within the Day Forest National Park, Djibouti's only national park. The ecology of this landform is considered an isolated outlier of the Ethiopian montane forest ecological zone, an important island of forest in a sea of semi-desert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Assal (Djibouti)</span> Salt lake below sea level

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Djibouti</span>

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Moucha Island Coral island off the coast of Djibouti

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in the Arab world</span>

Tourism in the Arab World encompasses a wide array of activities and tourist attractions in an area spanning more than 13 million square kilometers. The Arab World mainly consists of the Arabic-speaking countries and populations in North Africa and Western Asia. The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 countries and territories of the Arab League: 10 countries in Africa, and 12 countries in Asia. Geographically, it stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the east, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean in the southeast. It has a combined population of around 422 million people.

References

  1. "Djibouti's enormous tourism potential attracting more attention". oxfordbusinessgroup. 2015.
  2. "Djibouti: Tourism, travel, and recreation". Nations Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  3. "National Directorate of Statistics, Ministry of Commerce and Tourism (Djibouti)". GHDx. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  4. "UNWTO Tourism Highlights, 2014 Edition" (PDF). UNWTO. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  5. "Djibouti's enormous tourism potential attracting more attention". oxfordbusinessgroup. 2015.
  6. "Dromedary or Camel Tibs in Djibouti Restaurants". Melting Pot Restaurant Djibouti. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  7. Mark Stratton (3 November 2002). "Djibouti: The heat is on". The Independent. Retrieved 28 February 2017.