LEISURE



THE LAND OF DIVERSITY

Cote d' Ivoire is located in West Africa between 5 and 10 degree north of the equator, limited by the following countries: to the west by Guinea and Liberia, to the est by Ghana and to the north by Mali and Burkina Fasso, on the the south by the Atlantic Ocean.
While it covers a relatively small area (122,000 square miles, roughly the size of new mexico), Cote d'Ivoire has exerted ,for more than two decades, a significant impact on the west Africa region and on the world itself. It Enjoys an unparalleled diversity, thanks to its naturals resourses, its fairly unique population profile, its historical heritage and its current level of overall economic developpement.

PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE

Coastal plains in the south gradually give way to a plateau in the north; there peaceful skylines are occasionally broken by granitic domes arising from the earth like newly emerged islands. To the west, hills become more jagged and the landscape shows more contrast in the man mountains(over 3,000 feet high). Its varied plants life also gives Cote d'Ivoire a unique profile.
The southwestern forest, slashed here here and there by the steely flow of rivers, are the domain of gigantic trees with their perpetrified bases and massive spurs. The northern savannah stretches to infinity, and unbroken spaces except for a few baobabs, whose leaves and fruits are used in local dishes.
Varied climates punctuate people's lives in Cote d'Ivoire as dry spells alternate with rainy seasons. The peak tourist season goes from August to May; although rainy, the April to July period is not without charms-it is more temperate and well-suited to tourists who dislike the hot weather.during this time of the year, flowers are in full bloom;greenery, colorful blossoms and lovely scents turn the countryside into a garden.This is the ideal time for butterfly chasing, an actively which can result in splendid collections.


POPULATION PROFILE

The population of Cote d'Ivoire totals 13 millions and one-third of it is made of people from neghboring countries such as Mali, Burkina Fasso, Guinea, Ghana, Senegal,and Liberia. No other country in the the world succeds in bringing together so many different people within such a limited space.This results in a cultural wealth, a range of traditions and folklore that are unparalleled in Africa, and that constitute a major asset for a country wher tourism has a human face.
This is supported by deeply-rooted features of the Ivorian people, such as a legendary sense of hospitality that is not a facade, but rather a living reality, admirably expressed by proverb from the wester region :your visitor is more than a son, more than a brother, more than a wife. Ivorians also have a spontaneity and openness which go a long way toward facilitating contacts and friend-ships.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Cote d'Ivoire has a calm, uneventful history, only slightly marred by the ups and downs of the struggle for independence. It is strongly influenced by and exceptional states-man Felix Houphouet Boigny founded the African Agricultural union, which would soon turn into a political party. As a representative in French National Assembly, he participated in the creation of new legislative framework in 1956. In 1958, he collaborated with Degaulle on implementing the French Commonwealth and carried out ministry appointment in french under the fith republic. Cote d'Ivoire is a republic with a president elected for five-year terms, through popular elections. Although the 1960 Constitution stated that formation of political parties was authorized, Cote d'Ivoire was ruled under a single party system system until early 1990. The ruling party was the Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI). Since then, several political parties have been formed and popular and democratic elections were organized at the presidential as well as the national assembly levels. President Felix Houphouet-Boigny was re-elected as head of state for a sixth consecutive term. The PDCI which won the election wih 162 of the 175 seats at the National Assembly is still the party in power.

ECONOMIC SITUATION

Cote d'Ivoire is a relatively prosperous country in West Africa which has received wide acclaim for its success; the "Ivorian Economic Miracle" is in fact, the logical result of liberal economics and an open trade policy. The Ivorian economy is based essentially on agriculture, where Cote d'Ivoire is a leader: Coffee 325,000 tons - top producer in Africa, third worldwide; cocoa 450,000 tons - top producer in Africa; bananas 200,000 tons; pineapple 350,000 tons; palm oil 200,000 tons - first exporter in Africa.
These crops, grown in the southern and cental regions, are complemented by two cash crops in the north; cotton and sugar cane.
The food processing industry shows steady growth (500 companies in 1980, vs. 60 in 1960), with total estimated revenues of CFA 600 billion, i.e. US $1.7 billion. The recent discovery of oil will give the Ivorian economy a new impetus in the coming years. After twenty-six years of independence, the overall balance sheet appears fully positive, with an estimate GNP of CFA 1,900 billion US $5.4 billion and a yearly per capita income slightly less than US $1,000.

EDUCATION

Cote d'Ivoire now has a 60% literacy rate (vs. 10% in 1960), about a hundred high schools, a University serving more than 16,000 students, professional school training engineers and technicians at all levels.

TRANSPORTATION

Although infrastructure deficiencies generally slow down the growth of tourism in Africa, Cote d'Ivoire does not suffer from this constraint. No other West African country has, to the same degree, criss-crossed its territory with good year-round roads; 24,800 miles in total, including 6,2000 miles with asphalt surfacing. A major highway now links Abidjan and Yamoussoukro, a sign of the Ivorian determination to improve its internal infrastructure; another highway now circles the country, from Abidjan to Bouake, Ferke, Odienne, Touba, Man and San Pedro. This road network is complemented by a rail system including comfortable, air-conditioned trains with dining and sleeping cars. However, it is well supported by a most developed domestic air network, offering several daily flights between Abidjan, the major urban center and the interior. Thanks to this multiple network, tourism travel posed no problem in Cote d'Ivoire.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

In this area, even the most demanding tourists are fully satisfied, since the country boasts more than 160 hotels, ranging from the prestigious "5 star" class to resort villages and modest but comfortable establishments. These total almost 10,000 rooms.
Number, however, do not adequately express the fact that all major urban centers offer a range of 2-, 3- and 4- star hotels, all comfortable and air-conditioned - equipped with bars, swimming pools and fancy restaurant. These facilities have been built according to plan by SIETHO (Ivorian Hotel and Tourism Expansion Company). This specialized organization has ensured uniform standards, which means no surprises --- save pleasant ones -- for vistors to the country.

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