Countries of the World/COUNTRYS.BIN/dp/0197/01970.txt

Text File | 1991-06-25 | 17KB | 342 lines

$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 6