The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) held its 4th edition of National Tourism Week last week, from November 26 to 30. According to the event minutes, participants urged national and international partners to invest more in the DRC’s tourism industry. Tourism Minister Didier M'pambia Musanga closed the event.
In his closing speech, Musanga emphasized the importance of tourism in building DRC’s reputation. He highlighted the concept of tourist villages and the Projet 145 territories, which not only stimulate local development but also have the potential to create jobs.
Background and Efforts
Several pro-tourism initiatives have been announced since the beginning of this semester. For instance, the government approved a partnership with AC Milan last September. The move aims to leverage the soccer club’s popularity to attract more tourists to the DRC.
The DRC has been focusing on developing tourism for a while. For example, in 2020, the country adopted a development plan targeting 2.5 million annual tourist arrivals, $2.2 billion in revenues, and creating 200,000 jobs. This year, in September, the previous plan was replaced with a new one.
This new plan includes seven main chapters: country presentation, institutional and legal framework, sector diagnosis, orientations and strategies, action plan, financing, and implementation monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. The strategy aims to create 500,000 jobs and generate over $7 billion in revenue by 2030.
Despite having great tourism potential, the DRC struggles to develop this sector, due to inadequate infrastructure, security issues, and a lack of international promotion. The government is taking steps to tackle these shortcomings; such as building new infrastructure, and establishing strategic partnerships. Simplifying the visa process could also significantly bolster tourist arrivals in the country.
The DR Congo has at least four major national parks, a rich biodiversity, and diverse cultural sites. The Ministry of Tourism lists 1,000 tourist sites, and nearly 500 species of mammals to observe.
Georges Auréole Bamba
