Project Brief
New Tourism Strategy
and Master Plan:
Developing Tourism While
Advancing Sustainable
Development in
Guinea-Bissau
Rationale
As one of the most important sectors in the global economy and a
leading source of jobs and wealth in many countries, tourism is a
powerful vehicle for promoting and reaching the milestones of the
ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Tourism is
now the third largest export category in the world, behind fuels and
chemicals and ahead of food and automotive vehicles. It provides 1
in 10 jobs and contributes to more than 10% of global GDP. In 2018
alone, international tourist arrivals amounted to 1.4 billion and
generated US$ 1.5 trillion, while domestic tourism generated a
further US$ 3.88 trillion. International tourist arrivals in Africa
increased by an estimated 7% in 2018. Results were driven by the
strong recovery in North Africa (+10%) and solid growth in many
destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa (+6%). The region welcomed a
total of 67 million international tourists in 2018 (5% of the world’s
total). And tourism’s importance will continue to grow – from 1.4
billion international arrivals in 2018 to 1.8 billion by 2030.
And yet, beyond its role in economic growth, tourism is most
remarkable for its potential to improve the quality of people’s lives.
Truly sustainable tourism can act as a catalyst for environmental
protection, champion diverse cultural heritage, and contribute to
peace-building in the world. In all these areas tourism offers great
potential to advance sustainable development and contribute
directly and indirectly to the achievement of all 17 SDGs.
Guinea-Bissau is little known for its tourist attractions, registering
only 44,000 international travellers in 2015 . This least developed
country relies heavily on agriculture (45.3% of GDP), especially rice
and cashews,. Almost 85% of the population depends on
WHERE: Guinea-Bissau
BENEFICIARIES: Local communities,
private sector, public sector
PARTNERS: The Government of
Guinea-Bissau-Ministry of Tourism and
Handicrafts
DURATION: 30 months
TOTAL COST: USD 950,000
SDGs:
agriculture as its main source of income. Over 60% of the population is under 25 years of age. According to the 2017
Human Development Index, Guinea-Bissau ranked 177th out of 189 countries.
The government’s 2015-2025 strategy is intended to “transform the economic map of Guinea-Bissau between now
and 2025”. Specifically, to meet major challenges in the areas of economic growth, poverty reduction, job creation, and
food security, the government proposes to develop sectors that drive growth, particularly agriculture and agroindustry,
fishing and aquaculture, tourism, and mining. In the 2015-2020 “Terra Ranka” Strategic and Operational Plan, the
promotion of tourism, especially ecotourism, is mentioned as an essential goal.
Lonely Planet writes this about Guinea-Bissau: “Like a microcosm of Africa, this tiny nation contains multitudes of
landscapes, peoples, cultures and plant and animal life…Faded colonial-era houses sag, from tropical decay and the
weight of history…Despite hardships and poverty, Bissau-Guineans persevere... The jewel in the country's crown is the
labyrinth of tropical islands that make up the Arquipélago dos Bijagós. Long white-sand beaches are lapped by waters
brimming with fish...”
Given its huge range of natural, heritage, and cultural assets, the country can, with the right planning of a sustainable
and responsible tourism sector, attract a much bigger international tourist market.
This will enable tourism to help diversify the economy and significantly contribute to poverty eradication, rural
development, and job creation, while preserving the country’s unique environmental and cultural assets.
Background
Guinea-Bissau has considerable tourism potential in terms of natural as well as cultural heritage. In 2016 the
Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS 2) estimated tourism’s share of GDP at less than 2%, concentrated in the
Bijagós Islands, a national parks system covering 23.7% of the country’s territory, as well as Bissau and its environs.
The government’s National Strategic Development Plan for 2015-2020, “Terra Ranka”, identifies tourism as a priority
sector for socio-economic development.
The environment for tourism is challenging. A long rainy season compresses tourist activity into six or seven months
of the year, from mid-November to May, with obvious implications for the operating costs and profitability of hotels
and tourist enterprises. The domestic market for leisure tourism is very small, so significant growth of the tourism
economy will depend primarily on attracting much greater numbers of foreign visitors.
At present, however, Guinea-Bissau’s tourism sector is not competitive in terms of cost, service, or quality. Direct air
routes to the country from key source markets are few and not competitively priced. Internal transport (especially to
and between the islands) is inadequate, basic utilities function erratically, and tourism and hospitality skills are
limited.
Tourism Plans have been prepared for certain smaller areas of the country, but there is no comprehensive national
tourism development strategy to position the sector as a key motor for diversification of the national economy,
alternative sources of employment – especially for the country’s many unemployed youth – and socio-economic
development for all parts of the country.
The government is also working on a system enabling the country’s hotels and services to meet international quality
standards, which will oblige national and international investors to begin implementing quality-compliance
regulations long needed in the country. The need for stringent and competitive quality service in the tourism sector,
particularly in the hotel accommodation sector, is still poorly understood. There is a general lack of competitiveness,
and to change it, a hotel classification system needs to be developed. A first step is to analyze the current status of
hotel infrastructure and services in the country, before actually setting up the classification system. The system will
need to be realistic and implementable with very strong partnership between government and private sector.
Overall Objective
Develop a sustainable and responsible tourism sector in Guinea-Bissau that contributes to economic and
socio-economic development by putting a national tourism strategy and hotel classification system in place.
Objectives
Objective 1: Formulation of a Tourism Strategy and Master Plan for Guinea-Bissau focusing on:
• Development of the Bijagos archipelago as a ‘world-class’ sustainable eco-tourism and sport fishing
destination
• Human capital development
• Private-sector development, incorporating circular business models along the tourism value chain
(involving such SMEs and MSMEs as food and beverage providers, tour operators, and handicraft
producers)
• Sustainable value chain development, including sustainable consumption, production, and practices, as
well as monitoring systems
• Development of high-quality tourist infrastructure on the mainland, including a network of new national
parks, for example at Varela and the island of Pecixe.
• Accessibility and transport
• Increased visibility for Guinea-Bissau
Objective 2: Develop a quality assurance hotel classification system and provide training on quality and international
standards
Main Activities
Formulate the strategy and planning needed to drive sustainable growth of the tourism sector over the next ten years;
• Consult widely with tourism stakeholders through face-to-face meetings and consultative workshops at local and
regional levels, drawing on the National Strategic Plan and past studies and strategies;
• Provide an economic justification for investment based on realistic targets for growth;
• Assess human resource needs and skills development for purposes of training and capacity building for the tourism
sector
• Include a short-term action plan (3 years) defining the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, with delivery
timelines, indicative budgets, monitoring guidelines, and performance indicators.
Activities for the hotel classification system will include:
• A review of all existing classification criteria and legal documentation (tourism law, rules, regulations);
• comparison of existing criteria and standards with international best practices; and
• formulation of the classification criteria following a consultative process.
• Design and development of a capacity-building plan for inspectors consisting of:
• theoretical training: understanding the nuances of each of the criteria, how to score, how to handle
questions/discussions with hotel owners and managers; and
• practical training: application of the new criteria through technical visits to hotels in different categories, preparation
of score sheets, drafting of assessment reports.
• Define the institutional framework responsible for management and implementation of the hotel classification
system, analysing the institution’s human and financial resources;
• Design the work plan of the department/institution to cover all aspects of hotel classification, including registration
of the hotels, communication with hotels and inspectors to plan assessment visits, review of pre-requisite
documentation, creation of a database for the classification process, implementation of the assessment visit, etc.;
• Create technical and independent committees for the inspectors to review inspection reports;
• Issue official notification of the classification (certificate/plaque); and
• Provide training on tourism statistics for relevant stakeholders.
Project Outputs
• Tourism strategy and master plan for Guinea-Bissau
• Short-term action plan (3 years) defining the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, with delivery timelines,
indicative budgets, monitoring guidelines, and performance indicators.
• Hotel classification system in place
• 250 officials and relevant stakeholders trained
• 100 private-sector stakeholders informed and trained
• Data collection methodology improved and cooperation between stakeholders strengthened
Outcomes
• Further development of the tourism sector with increasing international tourist arrivals
• Sustainable consumption and production implemented and monitored
• Jobs created and poverty reduced, in particular among women and youth
• Natural and cultural assets protected
• Tourism public and private institutions strengthened in respect of governance and policy issues
• Quality of hotel service improved in accordance with international standards
• Tourism statistics comparable at national, regional, and global levels
Impacts
• Development stimulated in areas with tourism potential where benefits can flow to the local community and help
reduce poverty;
• A distinctive and innovative eco-tourism product developed embracing Guinea-Bissau’s history and cultural
traditions, with increased visibility for Guinea-Bissau as a tourist destination
• Political stability and peace re-enforced
• A targeted marketing strategy implemented, making the best use of modern technology and the Internet;
• Adequate tourism and hospitality skills and capacity built
• Effective public-private partnerships created and support provided for investors and operators through simplified
bureaucratic procedures;
• Local business practices and access to technology modernized
• Tourism statistics and data collection brought in line with international standards
• Ranking for the country in the Human Development Report (currently 177th out of 189 countries) improved
For more information, contact UNWTO: Institutional Relations and Partnerships at sdg17@unwto.org
Tourism is a powerful vehicle to promote and reach the milestones of the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development given that it is one
of the most important sectors in the global economy and a main job and wealth creator for many countries. Tourism is now the third largest export
category in the world, behind fuels and chemicals, and ahead of food and automotive. It provides 1 in 10 jobs and contributes to more than 10%
of global GDP. In 2018 alone, international tourist arrivals amounted to 1.4 billion and generated US$ 1.5 trillion, while domestic tourism generated
a further US$ 3.88 trillion.
But the sector doesn’t just play a role in economic growth; it is most remarkable for its potential to improve the quality of people’s lives. Truly
sustainable tourism can act as a catalyst for environmental protection, champion diverse cultural heritage, and contribute to peace-building in the
world. In all these areas, tourism offers great potential to advance sustainable development, and thus contributes – directly and indirectly – to the
achievement of all 17 SDGs.
The World Tourism Organization has been providing technical assistance in countries across the globe for more than 40 years, supported by a
wide range of donors, in partnerships with other IOs, Civil Society and the private sector. It has knowledge and expertise in the development of a
sustainable, responsible and accessible tourism sector that contributes to a better world.
To scale up the efforts to unlock aid flows for tourism in the new 2030 aid architecture, UNWTO has developed a co-creation space in the T4SDGs
platform for sharing developing countries’ needs.
Please visit www.Tourism4SDGs.org