In the Council of Ministers, this Wednesday, November 6, 2024, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye returned to the role “ fundamental » of culture in the national transformation agenda.
The Head of State reminded the Government of the essential place of culture in the “Vision Senegal 2050”. And sent his congratulations and encouragement to cultural actors for their major role in the influence of Senegal, the preservation of social stability and living together while respecting our values and traditions.
He thus urged the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Secretary of State for Culture, Creative Industries and Historical Heritage to ensure the sustained decentralization of actions, among the populations, in the inclusive development and consensual execution of Senegal’s cultural agenda. He also asked the Government to propose a national program for the creation of cultural infrastructures integrating the Poles and taking into account the specificities and potential of our regions.
The President of the Republic invited the Minister of Culture to work more on the popularization of our cultural and historical heritage and to ensure the preservation of classified historical heritage, in particular Gorée, a memory island, which must benefit from special attention. To close this chapter, he informed the Council that he will chair, on Thursday November 7, 2024 at the Grand Théâtre national Doudou Ndiaye Coumba Rose, the opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the Biennale of Contemporary African Art.
Speaking of tourism which remains a sector that drives growth and job creation, the Head of State asked the Minister of Tourism and Crafts to revitalize all the organizations promoting the “Senegal destination” by perfect synergy with local players, tourist circuit operators and other professionals in the sector. He indicated the imperative of strategic control of the development and construction of hotel and tourist establishments on the national coast and the sites placed under the management of the Society for the Development and Promotion of Coasts and Tourist Zones of Senegal ( SAPCO). At the same time, he underlined the urgency of significantly improving the living environment and security in tourist areas and sites but also of ensuring the permanent strengthening of tourist police to better secure activities.
In the dynamic of developing youth employment, the President of the Republic asked the Government to prioritize tourism in the mechanisms of the 3FPT and the national State-Employer convention. It also involves supporting the National Hotel and Tourism Training School as well as training centers for tourism professions. He asked the Minister of Tourism and Crafts and the Minister of Finance and Budget to evaluate, restructure and strengthen tourism financing through the readjustment of hotel credit interventions, a mechanism which should underpin rapid recovery. and sustainable development of the sector. He also indicated to the Minister of Tourism to work in conjunction with the Minister of Air Transport, the private sector and the airlines, on the annual organization in Senegal of a major international tourism fair in order to promote the “destination Senegal” but also develop domestic tourism.
