Sensational plans uncovered: will the isolated terra incognita of Guinea Bissau open up to tourism as early as 2024?

Until now, Guinea Bissau has been preoccupied with itself. Now there are increasing rumours that the course will be set for the country to open up as early as 2024.

The country once belonged to the West African kingdom of Kaabu and the Mali Empire. The area that is now Guinea Bissau became a colony of Portugal in the 16th century. Guinea Bissau broke away from Portugal in 1973/1974. The official language is still Portuguese. However, not all people in the country speak the language of the former colonisers. Creole seems to be widespread, and various African languages are understood and spoken up and down the country. French is also occasionally heard here. Some of the younger and internet-savvy inhabitants are busy learning and speaking English.

It actually took a while... Independence from Portugal did not immediately lead to the country opening up to international trade and tourism. What is a blessing for the natural beauty of Guinea Bissau is the lack of plundering of the raw materials and, above all, the forests.

While in neighbouring countries, such as the Gambia or Senegal, large parts of the forests and raw materials have been destroyed, the original lifestyle of large parts of the indigenous population has created an oasis of nature throughout the country.

Various local skirmishes and problems among the different ethnic groups have ensured that the nature of Guinea Bissau has suffered relatively little damage.
The island world and the 320 km long coastline of West Africa are unique, but by no means all the islands are inhabited. They are left to nature and animals and the population of the entire country should benefit from this in the long term. In this country, the population and the government are focussing on sustainability and the preservation of flora and fauna for the future of the travel industry.

Guinea Bissau's asset: The 88 islands of the Bijagos archipelago

A wide variety of tribes have lived together on this archipelago for many centuries and once had various disputes and conflicts. The slave trade was also in the hands of the warriors living on the islands. They sold the slaves to the Portuguese and in return were largely left alone by the Portuguese. Fortunately, that was a long time ago.

Today, the people of Guinea Bissau are considered somewhat shy, but friendly and welcoming to travelers.
Word has also spread among the population of the African country that the future of the people lies better in the promising tourism industry. Contrary to some outdated press releases, travelers can feel safe and move freely even in the capital Bissau. In contrast to tourist areas in Gambia or Senegal, you are not asked "Friend, taxi?" every three minutes in Guinea Bissau.

Tourism could become the most important source of income for the country, which is why there are now widespread efforts to promote the travel industry and attract international investors to the country. The government will do everything in its power to ensure that economic development is positive.
The unique selling points of Guinea Bissau are impressive, more on this below. A few key facts about some of the islands: Formosa has an impressive 141 km², Canhabaque has a size of 111 km² and Bolama is slightly smaller, at just under 99 km², to mention just a few of the Atlantic oases. Only a few hundred indigenous people live on some of the islands, with 6100 people living on Bolama. The island is a recognised biosphere reserve and is almost completely surrounded by mangrove forests and is known for its excellent cashew nuts.

Africa's most popular holiday destinations (e.g. Senegal, Kenya or South Africa) will soon have a competitor:

Guinea Bissau shines with an impressive island world. A sensation is brewing in Africa's tourism industry. Guinea Bissau, which covers around 36,000 square kilometres and has almost 100 islands, is planning to open up to tourism.

However, the government does not want mass tourism, such as the Ballermann in Majorca. The country wants to protect and preserve its natural beauty as much as possible, which is why it wants to promote sustainable ecotourism.
Some of the islands have a unique and endemic diversity of flora and fauna, and the 88 islands of the Bissagos Archipelago in particular are breathtakingly beautiful, and there are still islands with real rainforest and tall trees, and all kinds of rare animals can be found on the islands and in the rainforest areas. There are monkeys, giant tortoises, impressive hippos weighing up to 2100kg, crocodiles and an exciting variety of birds. The sea around the almost 100 islands of Guinea Bissau is also very rich in species.

What makes Guinea-Bissau a particularly exciting destination in Africa from the point of view of the tourism industry and global travelers?

Cultural diversity:
Guinea-Bissau is a melting pot of different ethnic groups with different cultural traditions, languages and customs. The main ethnic groups are the Balanta, Fula, Manjako, Mandinka and Papel.

Biodiversity:
The country harbours a rich biodiversity in its ecosystems, including mangrove forests and tropical rainforests. This makes Guinea-Bissau an interesting place for nature lovers and researchers.

Archipelago of the Bijagós:
The Bijagós Islands off the coast of Guinea-Bissau form a unique ecosystem with rich wildlife, including rare bird species and sea turtles. The archipelago is protected as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Portuguese influence:
As a former Portuguese colony, Guinea-Bissau still reflects Portuguese influences in its culture, language and architecture. The official language is Portuguese. Many inhabitants are familiar with both traditional African and Portuguese influences.

Political challenges ... are a thing of the past:
Guinea-Bissau has a chequered political history with political instability and attempted coups. These challenges have influenced the country's development and make it unique in political terms.

Excellent opportunities for investors in the tourism industry:

Guinea-Bissau will open up completely to ecotourism by 2030. This means that there could be an excellent opportunity for international hotel chains to turn one of the 88 islands into an eco or luxury travel icon in Africa, for example. It is important to the government that the plans are designed sustainably in order to preserve Africa's former biodiversity for future generations. Not all the key points of the opening plans are yet clear, but it seems that a country with a unique natural environment is opening its doors to Europeans, allowing a jewel among long-distance travelers to showcase its beauty to the world.

Safety for travelers is declared a top priority:

Guinea-Bissau will launch a broad awareness campaign for the population, police and civil servants. English lessons for all those working in the travel industry will become an important component of communication.

Economic challenges:

The country faces economic challenges, including poverty, lack of infrastructure and dependence on agriculture. Overcoming these challenges is crucial for the country's future development. It is becoming increasingly clear that the new plans of the Ministry of Tourism under the leadership of Minister Alberto Demba Turé will generate completely new development opportunities for the country. Tour operators, airlines and the operators of international hotel chains and eco-lodges will soon be expressly addressed and warmly welcomed.

Information on traveling, weather, accommodation recommendations, prices and activities:

Firstly, there is an incredible amount to discover. The country is certainly one of the most exciting destinations of this decade. Traveling to Guinea-Bissau is currently somewhat tedious and is currently served by Portuguese airline TAP or Moroccan airline RAM, for example. Direct flights from London, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland or Austria and other European countries are being planned. So things will change soon.

The best time to travel to West Africa is from November to around mid-June. During these eight months it remains very dry and warm. From July of each year until around the middle/end of October, it is humid, warm and it rains from time to time. The Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts in Bissau is very open to an increase in flight frequencies from Europe.

In future, tour operators from Europe will also be invited to visit the country, which is unknown in Europe. Press and information trips are planned to the exciting Guinea Bissau. The cost of living for transport services, nuts, local fruit and vegetables or even a tasty lunch is significantly lower than the higher prices in Senegal or Gambia. Accommodation in a double room from 15 £ per night.

The capital Bissau is somewhat reminiscent of Salvador de Bahia in Brazil, but also a bit like Lisbon. Travelers can easily explore the city on foot and visit numerous sights and museums. Many small and large restaurants offer local specialities, making discovering this exciting corner of Africa a real pleasure. Taxis are reasonably priced. Bicycles and motorbikes can be hired in some parts of the capital.

One of the local experts in tourism is the Marketing Director Algassimo Bá. The CEO of the leading incoming tour operator www.kassumaytours.com explicitly mentions that the population is very much looking forward to many more travellers. Word is spreading in the country that the income opportunities for thousands of inhabitants, who are quite poor overall, will improve drastically; with every additional flight to Bissau, the chances of the locals benefiting from the travel boom increase. More jobs for all - that is the aim of the government and also the players in the country's travel industry.

Currently, the people from England and all other Europeans still need a visa, but simplifications are being discussed. Hotels and eco-lodges in particular are in favour of simplifying visa requirements. According to an analysis by a market research company in Switzerland, visitor numbers to Guinea Bissau will increase dramatically the easier it is to travel to the country.

The example of Georgia (Caucasus) proves that the elimination of entry formalities has caused visitor numbers to explode dramatically. Europeans can stay there for a year. In Morocco or South Africa, travelers from Dublin or London or Stockholm are welcome in those destinations for 90 days - without a visa.

The former is very modern, while the latter has the classic touch of a hotel in the premium segment. Even discerning globetrotters can spend pleasant days here and explore the capital, the country and its people from these excellent locations. Both are centrally located yet quiet. Of course, there are also much cheaper accommodation options, guest houses and hotels.

The local experts at

http://kassumaytours.com/

or

https://www.bolama.de/

Conclusion:
If Guinea Bissau really does open up to travelers from Europe, this exciting country with the highlight of the 88 islands will shake up the entire African tourism market.

We are excited and will stay on top of the rumours and report as soon as possible...

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Bellacoola Film Production UG from Cologne in Germany has become known as an experienced film production company with excellent references. Focus: Travel and science. Since a few years a department "Economy" has been added and deals with the reasons for the significantly decreased competitiveness of the German industry. Even future technologies, such as the aerospace industry, are not sufficiently supported, and politicians obviously lack the will to act.

This release was published on openPR.