Young Africans from the public policy incubator “I am committed to Africa” recently presented their proposals and projects to improve life in secondary African cities during the international tourism fair, IFTM Top Résa. Among these proposals, the town of Aného in Togo was highlighted for its tourist potential.
Located just 50 kilometers from the capital Lomé, Aného offers magnificent landscapes with its coconut trees and views of Lake Togo. Despite this potential, the city suffers from a high unemployment rate, which slows down its tourist development. This is why residents of the “I’m committed to Africa” program proposed the creation of a training center for hospitality professions, particularly in the hotel and catering industry. This initiative would make it possible to promote the local region, create jobs for young people and attract more tourists.
But that’s not all. The young residents also set up discussions between different stakeholders in the city, such as the mayor of Aného and a hotel group, in order to create a lasting tourism dynamic. This collaboration between local stakeholders would make it possible to find concrete solutions to stimulate the tourism sector and promote the economic development of the city.
Togo has made tourism one of its key sectors for the years to come, with the aim of welcoming 1 million visitors by 2021. Despite the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, the revival of tourism seems to be underway and initiatives such as that proposed by the young residents of Aného will certainly contribute to this success.
Thus, Aného in Togo could soon become an attractive tourist destination, thanks to the creativity and commitment of young Africans working together to develop the secondary cities of their continent. The potential of this city, which has long remained untapped, could finally be harnessed through training, collaboration and promotion of local tourism initiatives.