Tidying up: The government has plans for a more focused management structure

As increasing attention is given to the development of tourism, policymakers have come to realise that the way public policy for the industry is managed needs a rethink, prompting the government to unify management under one office. In 2011 a presidential decree paved the way for the creation of the National Agency for Tourism Development (Agence Nationale du Développement du Tourisme, ANDT), to bring together different agencies and governmental directorates in charge of the sector. The ANDT had not materialised as of mid-2013, but is included in Emerging Gabon plans.

FRAGMENTATION: A policy led by President Ali Bongo Ondimba is putting increasing emphasis on developing tourism. However, as the sector’s weight in the state administration has increased over the years, a certain level of fragmentation has occurred in terms of its management. The General Directorate of Tourism (Direction Générale du Tourism, DGT) – which is part of the Ministry of Investment Promotion, Public Works, Transport, Housing and Tourism – is in overall charge of policy. The General Directorate of Hospitality and Hotels is in charge of overseeing the development of the hospitality offering and maintaining standards. Several other aspects, especially ecotourism and the development of tourism in the National Parks, are related to the National Agency for National Parks, which oversees the preservation of protected areas. Another governmental body, Gabon Tour, has the role of marketing the sector.

This variety of governmental bodies can sometimes pose problems for investors looking to enter the sector. For example, while the establishment of a tourism project is handled directly with the DGT, all issues related with the land where that project will be established must be taken up with a different ministry. The authorities are keen to change this.

BUDGETARY FOCUS: The existence of various directorates and agencies in charge of different aspects of tourism development has had a negative impact on the allocation of the sector’s budget, according to some observers. “We need more clarity in terms of the legal framework and the sector’s governmental management structure. There are many activities overlapping between these agencies, and this also disperses the existing budget,” said Jean Léonard Nguema Ondo, a member of Parliament and former head of the DGT. What is needed, said Nguema Ondo, is a well-funded government organism that can not only establish regulations but also accelerate their implementation. “Over the years the budget for tourism has improved, but it has somewhat been diffused,” he told OBG.

STATISTICS: Some advances have already been made. The need to better understand the sector has prompted the authorities to collect information. Despite existing statistics on some elements related to tourism, such as airport arrivals, for example, the available figures were not enough to give the government a complete picture of the dynamics of tourism in Gabon.

The creation of the Tourism Satellite Account (Compte Satellite du Tourisme, CST) in 2011 was a step forward. Set up as a sort of observatory for sector analysis, the CST’s first results provided a snapshot of tourism in Gabon. Its results were important for the government, helping it understand the industry’s contribution to GDP and employment. The CST was also useful for private operators, as it collected important information such as the existing hospitality offerings and nationality of visitors. The biggest obstacle facing the CST is the lack of funding to establish a fully fledged observation post. The yearly CFA25m (€38,000) budget is not sufficient to conduct an annual collection of statistics, and authorities hope to increase funding to allow the CST to produce regular updates.

Gabon exhibits significant potential to become a serious player in the continent’s tourism industry, and an essential factor will be the establishment of a well organised and financed government body that can determine clear regulation and apply it in a prompt manner. The creation of the ANDT may become an essential spark for the development of the tourism sector.