User:Dvermeirre/sandbox

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country located in West Africa.

Tourism is less developed in Burkina Faso than in other neighbouring countries:

According to the Government tourism agency, 433,778 tourists visited the country in 2011.

60% of the hotel capacity is concentrated in the two main towns, Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. In 2006, business was the primary reason for travel to Burkina Faso (58%).

In 2014, business travel spending represented about 45% of the travel sector's contribution to the Burkina Faso GDP, and leisure travel 55%.

Economy and Employment
The total contribution of travel & tourism to GDP in 2014 was 211.5bn CFA (3.3% of GDP). The World Travel and Tourism Council forecasts this will rise by 1.5% in 2015, and to rise by 4.9% per year to 346.4bn CFA (2.8% of GDP) in 2025. However, the share of tourism in the Burkinabe economy has dropped from a peak in 2009

Tourism provides 61,500 direct and 84,500 indirect jobs to Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso is one of the countries where travel contributes the least to the economy.

Government involvement
Training in tourism and hospitality is limited. The Centre de Formation en Tourisme et Hôtellerie (CFTH) established in 1989 and the Ecole Supérieure du Tourisme et de l’Hôtellerie (ESTH) established in 1999 are the two main schools in the field. The Ecole Nationale d’Administration et de Magistrature, Ecole Nationale des Eaux et Forêts (Dindéresso) and the Universities of Ouagadougou and Koudougou offer programs touching on tourism and travel.

Tourism has increased rapidly in Burkina Faso and the government has focused attention on expanding transportation infrastructure to facilitate future growth.



Areas
Burkina Faso has approximately sixty different ethnic groups with populations of more than ten thousand, and each with its  own culture and traditions. The country can be divided into four regions: Central, Western, Eastern and Northern (The Sahel) parts of the country, each with its own geographic and cultural appeal.

The Park of Bangr Weogo
Located in the middle of Ouagadougou, Fernando, G. and Bachirou, N. March 26, 2006. stated that “in the urban park of Bangr Weogo can be found more than three hundred and sixty (360) species of plants, one hundred and sixty (160) species of birds and more than forty (40) species of animals such as antelope, crocodiles, monkeys and squirrels among others. The Bangr Weogo infrastructure includes a museum entirely dedicated to the animal kingdom, a sports area, a play area for children named “Faso Park”, and a restaurant”. The tourists on vacation in Ouagadougou will enjoy visiting the different facilities in the Bangr Weogo Park.

The National museum
The National museum of Ouagadougou is also an important tourist spot. It was created in 1962 and is still completely functional. It welcomes a combination of traditional villages that represent the different cultures and tribes of Burkina Faso; inside the museum a library is available and also sacred items that tell a lot about the culture of the country and its population.

The international saloon of arts and crafts ( SIAO ) and the festival of cinema ( FESPACO )
The International Saloon of Arts and Crafts (SIAO) and the Festival of cinema (FESPACO) are popular tourist attractions in Ouagadougou. These two festivals take place every two years. The International Saloon of Arts and Crafts (SIAO) promotes African crafts industry and offers visitors the opportunity to be better acquainted African art, as all African countries are represented. The Festival of cinema (FESPACO) is unique in Africa because it showcases African Films. The FESPACO is the only festival where African actors and film makers gather with the specific aim of promoting African cinema. During this period, which lasts 2 to 3 weeks, the national television as well as all cinema screens in the city present African movies.

The wildlife park of Ziniaré
The wildlife park of Ziniaré has an important variety of animals living in captivity. There, you can find elephants, lions, antelopes and many other species; it is a very fine place to visit. If you have extra time you can visit the house of the president Mr. Blaise Compaoré near the wildlife park..

The sculpture on granite of Loango
The area of Loango near the town of Ziniaré is the granite sanctuary. Located about 35km outside the Ouagadougou, Loango is well known in the sculptors’ world for its granite sculpture symposium which takes place every two years. The site is accessible to tourists outside the Symposium.

The museum of Manega
The most extraordinary tourist spot that the tourists will never forget is the museum of Manega also called the “Land of Rest” located at fifty (50) kilometers at the north of Ouagadougou which has been founded by Master Titinga Frédéric Pacéré, lawyer and a man of culture. Indeed, he stated that “strangely related to the sacred, this museum conceals a lot of items dealing with the domain of the mystery. There, the tourists is able to find for example 500 sacred masks having all participated in rituals in front of dead men; several tens of YAKOUGA or tombstones with men's effigy dating back to several millennia and whose rocks are aged between 2,600,000,000 and 1,600,000,000 years, elements of the oldest African cultures and many others items”. A trip in the museum of Manega is essential for those who felt in love with the mysteries that the African culture carries.

The sacred crocodiles of Sabou
The town of Koudougou with his sacred crocodiles of Sabou also has a lot of reputation. Indeed, the inhabitants venerate crocodiles in this region and for good reason. The crocodiles are harmless and you can easily sit on them and take memorable pictures. That is what the native population suggests the tourists do when they arrive at Sabou.

The Great Mosque of Dioulassoba
Construction of the Great Mosque began around 1800 in Africa and took about ten years to complete. The mosque is built of bricks made of a mixture of mud, Banco (building material) and clay. The pillars and walls are original, but the roof is replaced every ten to fifteen years, when it deemed to no longer keep out the rain.

The mausoleum of Guimbi Ouattara
Princess Guimbi Ouattara was a prominent figure in the history of the defense of Bobo Dioulasso against the invaders in the early eighteen hundreds. Her mausoleum is open to visitors.

Musée provincial du Houet
Created in [1984 in Africa|1984]] and opened to the public in 1990, the museum attempts to depict life in the province of Houet. In the 1990s, it benefited from funding from local cultural groups which held cultural events on its grounds.

Nearby road works led to a substantial shrinkage in the area of the museum. This also led to a reduction in events held on the grounds. In 2008, responsibility for the museum was transfered from the Ministry of Culture to the city of Bobo Dioulasso.

The Houet river crosses the grounds of the museum. Catfish are worshiped by faithful in the local community. .

The old town
The town of Bobo Dioulasso grew around the village of Sya(known as Dioulassoba). The village has been added to the Tentative List for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Swimming
Travelers and locals can swim in private pools and the river.

National Culture Week
The National Culture Week of Burkina Faso, or Semaine Nationale de la culture (SNC), takes place in Bobo Dioulasso every two years, alternating with Ouagadougou's FESPACO. It was created in 1983 the 18th edition will take place March 26 - 02 April 2016. The festival presents the different cultures of Burkina Faso through sketches, cooking, traditional songs, sports and exhibitions.

Natural Waterfall of Banfora
The Cascades de Karfiguéla, or Banfora Cascades, are a series of waterfalls along the Komoé River, about 70 km southwest of Bobo Dioulasso, near the town of Banfora. The waterfalls are a tourist attraction.

Sindou Peaks
Considered a holy site by the Sénoufos, the peaks were a site for conducting initiation rites of young boys and a refuge in case of enemy incursions. Parts of the area are now opened to tourists.

The National Parks of Arly and the W
Arli National Park (sometimes spelled Arly) and the W National Park are a refuge for wildlife.

The cliffs of Gobnangou
The cliffs of Gobnangoua are a tourist attraction.

The reserve and ranch of Nazinga
The ranch at Nazinga offers safaris to tourists.

The archeological museum and the stone carvings of Pobé Mengao
In the town of Djibo the archeological museum of Pobé Mengao and the stone carvings of Pobé Mengao are the attractions of the town. There are many cultural objects exhibited in the museum and available for people interested in the different stories of the land of the "men of integrity".

The feminine artisanal center of Gorom
The second town in the Sahel is Gorom Gorom and has the feminine artisan center of Gorom which is very interesting to visit. Women of the town have shown what they are really capable of and more. They excel in the domain of art, sculpture, pottery and many others disciplines. Cheap souvenir objects can be bought in the center.

The touristic camp
The tourist camp of Gorom Gorom is the ideal place to stay for the tourists when arriving in the Sahel and principally at Gorom Gorom. Indeed, the entire structure of that area is planned to welcome tourists on vacation. A comfortable place to take a rest, a service of restoration is also available and many others features are available just for the well being of the tourists.