$Unique_ID{COW01970} $Pretitle{269} $Title{Cote d'Ivoire Part 1} $Subtitle{} $Author{Tourisme Cote d'Ivoire} $Affiliation{Embassy of Cote d'Ivory, Washington DC} $Subject{cote d'ivoire abidjan ivorian africa country african major port tons} $Date{1990} $Log{} Country: Cote d'Ivoire Book: Cote d'Ivoire Inviting, Mystical, Secure Author: Tourisme Cote d'Ivoire Affiliation: Embassy of Cote d'Ivory, Washington DC Date: 1990 Part 1 We are pleased that you are planning a visit to Cote d'Ivoire, and we are confident that your stay will be most enjoyable. "Bon Voyage." This brochure serves as a guide to the "essence" of our country-its beauty, allure, arts, adventures, and pleasures. On these pages we will introduce you to the rich variety of our attractions and the intriguing customs of our people. We will also answer many of the questions you have as a guest to Cote d'Ivoire. Cote d'Ivoire is a truly exotic destination. It is a land where tribal customs blend harmoniously with cosmopolitan ambience. In Cote d'Ivoire, a colonial flavor permeates the air, and the climate is reminiscent of a New England summer. Cote d'Ivoire is an open door to all of Africa . . . . since it is connected by air to all other African countries. To reach our country, you can fly Air Afrique, which departs on a regularly scheduled basis from New York's Kennedy International Airport to Abidjan. As your flight arrives in Abidjan, the former capital city, you will sense that this is but a prelude to an extraordinary travel adventure, for the view through the airplane window - myriad "neighborhoods" contrasting traditional village life with futuristic architecture, all built around a lagoon - is truly unique. You will see why Abidjan is known as "The Paris of Africa" and "The Pearl of the Lagoons." Since 1970, Cote d'Ivoire has made its tourism industry a top priority. For vacation visitors, more than 10,000 international-standard hotel rooms, seaside resorts and village inns have been built throughout the country. For business travelers, we provide modern banking services, up-to-date telecommunication systems and modern Convention Centers, which are part of the developing Riviera Project in Abidjan. We have achieved all this because we care about your comfort and leisure, well-being and peace of mind. Sports such as golf, tennis and big-game fishing are also available throughout the country and on the coastline. You are about to visit a fascinating, exciting country full of interesting and delightful surprises, where a walk through a native village or viewing a tribal dance will add a beautiful dimension to an unforgettable experience. The people you will meet are warm and friendly and most eager to share their culture with you - to achieve the best mutual understanding. "Bon Voyage". And while in Cote d'Ivoire, be our guest, feel free, secure, and remain open-minded. We Enjoy and Celebrate People Kouakou Edmond DESBHY Director, Tourisme Cote d'Ivoire North America Cote d'Ivoire The Land of Diversity Located in West Africa, 5 degrees to 10 degrees north of the equator, Cote d'Ivoire is limited on the south by the Atlantic, to the west by Guinea and Liberia, to the east by Ghana and to the north by Mali and Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta). While it covers a relatively small area (122,000 square miles, roughly the size of New Mexico), Cote d'Ivoire has exerted, for more than two decades, a significant impact on the West African subcontinent and on the world itself. It enjoys an unparalleled diversity, thanks to its natural resources, its fairly unique population profile, its historical heritage and its current level of overall economic development. Physical Landscape Coastal plains in the south gradually give way to a plateau in the north; there, peaceful skylines are occasionally broken by granitic domes arising from the earth like newly emerged islands. To the west, hills become more jagged and the landscape shows more contrast in the Man mountains (over 3,000 feet high). Its varied plant life also gives Cote d'Ivoire a unique profile. The southwestern forests, slashed here and there by the steely flow of rivers, are the domain of gigantic trees with their petrified bases and massive spurs. The northern savannah stretches to infinity, an unbroken space except for a few baobabs, whose leaves and fruits are used in local dishes. Varied climates punctuate people's lives in Cote d'Ivoire as dry spells alternate with rainy seasons. The peak tourist season goes from August to May; although rainy, the April-July period is not without charms-it is more temperate and well-suited to tourists who dislike the hot weather. During this time of the year, flowers are in full bloom; greenery, colorful blossoms and lovely scents turn the countryside into a garden. This is the ideal time for butterfly chasing, an activity which can result in splendid collections. Population Profile The population of Cote d'Ivoire totals 8.5 million and forms a veritable human puzzle with its more than sixty ethnic groups. No other country in the world succeeds in bringing together so many different people within such a limited space. This results in a cultural wealth, a range of traditions and folklore that are unparalleled in Africa, and that constitute a major asset for a country where tourism has "a human face." This is supported by deeply-rooted features of the Ivorian people, such as a legendary sense of hospitality that is not a facade, but rather a living reality, admirably expressed by a proverb from the western region: "Your visitor is more than a son, more than a brother, more than a wife." Ivorians also have a spontaneity and openness which go a long way toward facilitating contacts and friendships. Historical Background Cote d'Ivoire has a calm, uneventful history, only slightly marred by the ups and downs of the struggle for independence. It is strongly influenced by an exceptional statesman, Felix Houphouet-Boigny, whose life and destiny are closely linked with his country's evolution. As early as 1946, while a young physician and plantation owner, Dr. Houphouet-Boigny founded the African Agricultural Union, which would soon turn into a political party. As a Representative in the French National Assembly, he participated in the creation of the new legislative framework in 1956. In 1958, he collaborated with DeGaulle on implementing the French Commonwealth and carried out ministry appointments in France under the Fifth Republic. In 1960, when Cote d'Ivoire became independent, Dr. Houphouet-Boigny was a natural President for the new Republic. Since his election, Cote d'Ivoire has adopted a presidential regime based on a single party - the Ivorian Democratic Party, a branch of the African Democratic Rally, founded by African political elites in 1946. The colonial subdivisions have now given way to a new administrative structure: 49 prefectures and 163 subprefectures have been created since independence. In 1980, 136 urban centers have become full-fledged municipalities through local elections. Economic Situation Cote d'Ivoire is a prosperous country which has received wide acclaim for its success; the "Ivorian Economic Miracle" is in fact the logical result of liberal economics and an open trade policy. The Ivorian economy is based essentially on agriculture, where Cote d'Ivoire is a leader: Coffee 325,000 tons - top producer in Africa, third worldwide; cocoa 450,000 tons - top producer in Africa, bananas 200,000 tons; pineapples 350,000 tons; palm oil 200,000 tons - first exporter in Africa. These crops, grown in the southern and central regions, are complemented by two cash crops in the north: cotton and sugar cane. The food processing industry shows steady growth (500 companies in 1980, vs. 60 in 1960), with total estimated revenues of CFA 600 billion, i.e. US $1.7 billion. The recent discovery of oil will give the Ivorian economy a new impetus in the coming years. After twenty-six years of independence, the overall balance sheet appears fully positive, with an estimated GNP of CFA 1,900 billion US $5.4 billion and a yearly per capita income slightly less than US $1,000. Education Cote d'Ivoire now has an 80% literacy rate (vs. 10% in 1960), about a hundred high schools, a University serving more than 16,000 students, professional schools training engineers and technicians at all levels. Transportation Although infrastructure deficiencies generally slow down the growth of tourism in Africa, Cote d'Ivoire does not suffer from this constraint. No other West African country has, to the same degree, criss-crossed its territory with good year-round roads: 24,800 miles in total, including 6,200 miles with asphalt surfacing. A major highway now links Abidjan and Yamoussoukro, a sign of the Ivorian determination to improve its internal infrastructure; another highway now circles the country, from Abidjan to Bouake, Ferke, Odienne, Touba, Man and San Pedro. This road network is complemented by a rail system including comfortable, air-conditioned trains with dining and sleeping cars. However, it is well supported by a most-developed domestic air network, offering several daily flights between Abidjan, the major urban centers and the interior. Thanks to this multiple network, tourism travel poses no problem in Cote d'Ivoire. Hotel Accommodations In this area, even the most demanding tourists are fully satisfied, since the country boasts 160 hotels, ranging from the prestigious "5 star" class to resort villages and modest but comfortable establishments. These total almost 10,000 rooms. Numbers, however, do not adequately express the fact that all major urban centers offer a range of 2-, 3- and 4-star hotels, all comfortable and air-conditioned - equipped with bars, swimming pools and fancy restaurants. These facilities have been built according to plan by SIETHO (Ivorian Hotel and Tourism Expansion Company). This specialized organization has ensured uniform standards, which means no surprises - save pleasant ones - for visitors to the country. The South Abidjan: The "Pearl of The Lagoons" The futuristic skyline, reflected at night in the lagoons, is a perfect emblem of Abidjan's exceptional dynamism - from its origins as an Ebrie Fishermen's village to its present status as an economic capital totaling 2,500,000 residents. It was predestined to become a major urban center, through its natural configuration as a fairly deep lagoon separated from the sea by an offshore bar. In 1897-99, Houdaille and Crosson-Duplessis described it as "a 160-foot high plateau, open to the west, overlooking a magnificent bay and forming an ideal, salubrious site for the creation of a semi-circular city." Abidjan then became the terminal for the Abidjan-Niger railway which linked the capital and its port to the rich interior. After a slowdown during World War II, the offshore bar was cut and the Vridi canal officially opened on July 23, 1950 by Francois Mitterrand, then the French minister for Overseas Territories. This finally ensured the development of Abidjan, which had followed Bassam and Bingerville, as the Ivorian capital on July 1, 1934. It has turned into a boom town, with an 11% annual growth rate and a population which will reach 3 million in 1990. Within Abidjan, diverse districts stand side by side: The PLATEAU, the former colonial town, is now the business district and includes the Parliament and various ministries, banks and embassies. TREICHVILLE and ADJAME are typical of contemporary African cities with their colorful and vivid street life linking modern structures and cherished century-old traditions. COCODY, comparable to the Parisian Neuilly, is a residential neighborhood with its hedge-lined streets and impressive mansions. Abidjan is also surrounded by a belt of suburban "bedroom communities," such as KOUMASSI, YOPOUGON and ABOBOGARE. Thus, the fishermen's village of old has turned into a modern metropolis, linked to major cities in Africa and other continents by an ever-growing air traffic, symbolic of Cote d'Ivoire's destiny. Recommended Tourist Sites: The Treichville Market A tropical version of an oriental bazaar, exotic, colorful and very crowded, the Treichville market is a must for visitors to Abidjan. The whole point of the visit is to pick one's way within the maze of the displays, - and especially to bargain, since there is a different price for every customer, who is first and foremost a friend. The Banco Laundrymen It is an unusual experience to observe these unique outdoor laundrymen, operating on rocks strewn about the small Banco river. They are striking, at first sight, - a tremendous chaos that does not inspire confidence. But this is only a superficial impression: space is in fact tightly organized and every rock is used on a strict rotation basis. The Abidjan Museum This museum is a microcosm of African and especially of Ivorian art. Visitors may admire here an impressive array of masks symbolizing traditions of the western ethnic groups, ivory sculpture, gold jewelry and statuettes, as well as weights used to measure gold by the Akan of the central and southern regions. In short, it holds a whole symphony of art objects which will delight and interest everyone. Since art crystallizes people's thought and culture, the Abidjan museum is, as any museum, a showcase for the various civilizations that have formed the present population of Code d'Ivoire. The Port of Abidjan Thanks to the opening of the Vridi canal, this freshwater port handles today 90% of the commercial trade to and from Cote d'Ivoire. The port of Abidjan is the largest in West Africa, with a water surface area of almost 2,500 acres, divided into anchoring berths, and mooring buoys for loading rough timber. The land area of 50 acres of warehouses, several specialized facilities includes a banana boat loading dock, a log depot, and an offshore tanker mooring berth linked to the Ivorian Refinery Company by a 17,000-foot pipeline. Thanks to its location (midway between Dakar and Matadi in Zaire), and to its modern facilities, the port is also used as a dispersal and transshipment point by many shipping companies. Containers bound for Lagos, Cotonou, Lome and Monrovia are first shipped to Abidjan, then sent by feeder to their final destinations. Abidjan is also a major transit point for goods to and from the Sahel interior (Mali, Niger), thanks to the Abidjan-Niger railway and to an ever-growing road network. Overall, close to ten million tons of goods move through this port. Finally, Abidjan is becoming the largest fishing harbor in West Africa; its fleet includes trawlers, tuna and sardine fishing boats. More than 200,000 tons of fish are processed yearly in cold storage. Guided tours are available, led by executive staff from the Abidjan Port Authority. The Banco Forest The forest's peaceful and cool greenery is a haven for travelers. The crystal-clear waters of the Banco river run through this 7,000 acre forest north of Abidjan, which is an ideal spot for Sunday picnics or relaxing walks. It is flanked by a zoo featuring reptiles and other wildlife. Here again, tropical plant life is preserved for the visitor's benefit. The Logging Depot From a headland overlooking the depot, visitors have a splendid view of this facility, located north of the Port of Abidjan. Every day you can see ships being loaded and hundreds of logs floating on the lagoon. By its volume (close to one million tons), timber is Cote d'Ivoire's largest export. Major species exported are, in order of importance: Samba, sipo, mahogany, followed by bete and iroko. The Souvenir Market Here, in the midst of the Plateau, next to City Hall, you can buy from Senegalese vendors wooden or ivory statuettes, reptile or big game skins, etc. A word of caution: you must bargain for everything, persevere and be patient; if you follow this rule of the game, people will see you as a friend. Nightlife and Restaurants Abidjan has numerous movie theaters and night clubs. A must is "Treichville at Night", particularly 12th Street, a familiar haunt for local partygoers. Another point of interest is the Maquis, an outdoor African restaurant with typical Ivorian dishes and varied settings. Ivorian specialties are available in many African restaurants. For those who wish to stay close to home at mealtime, however, Abidjan offers many French, Swiss, Italian, Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants. Wines are imported from France and Italy.