Multimedia Mania/abacus-multimedia-mania.iso/dp/0031/00317.txt

Text File | 1993-07-27 | 17KB | 342 lines

$Unique_ID{bob00317}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Cote d'Ivoire
Part 1}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Tourisme Cote d'Ivoire}
$Affiliation{Embassy of Cote d'Ivory, Washington DC}
$Subject{cote
abidjan
d'ivoire
ivorian
africa
country
african
major
port
tons}
$Date{1990}
$Log{}
Title:       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'lvoire
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.