Tourist trade dries up as Mali struggles with Islamist insurgency

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:39:00 -0600

Mali's tourism industry was long its third-most important, fueling local economies and keeping people employed. But after terrorists and separatists seized control of the country's northern region, that tourism has all but disappeared.

Jeff Dorsey

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 07:13:54 -0600

Tourism revenue dropped by half from 2009 to 2010 after a Frenchman who owned a hotel near Timbuktu was kidnapped and the various embassies advised their citizens not to go father north than Mopti, about a days drive upstream on the Niger River from Timbuktu. Since then tourism has continued to fall as the security situation in northern Mali deteriorated. Without a full tour itinerary which included Segou, Mopti, Djenne, the Dogon country and Timbuktu, tourists picked other countries for their holidays. Tourism will not be revived until the three northern cities of Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal are recaptured and until security is restored in the North. The impact on tourist dependent economies is severe.

Meanwhile the national economy is in tatters since the major donors withdrew foreign aid after the removal of the corrupt former regime of president Amadou Toumani Toure. While 64% of Malians approved of his departure, donors who had condoned and collaborated with the corruption, determined that a "military coup" had taken place and pulled their assistance, triggering an economic depression and massive unemployment.

PRI: Public Radio International

Tourist trade dries up as Mali struggles with Islamist insurgency

Jeff Dorsey