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An interview with H.E. Hassan Farah Mighuil, Djibouti’s Minister of Youth, Sports, Recreation & Tourism<br />
Excuse Me, But Did You Say,<br />
“Djibouti”… or “Dji-beauty”?<br />
Located on the Horn of Africa, the Republic of Djibouti is converting its strategic position,<br />
dramatic landscapes and natural resources into an emerging leisure and<br />
adventure travel destination.<br />
Bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, and<br />
known in ancient times as the land of myrrh and incense,<br />
Egypt’s Queen Hatshepsut called Djibouti<br />
“the land of the Gods.” Rela-tively small in size<br />
(8,800 sq.mi.; roughly the size<br />
of Massachusetts) and set at the<br />
crossroads of Africa, Asia and<br />
the Arabian Gulf, this East<br />
African country is poised for discovery<br />
as an enviably exotic —<br />
and easily accessible — getaway<br />
for your more adventurous<br />
clients. <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong> sat<br />
down recently at its New York<br />
City headquarters with H.E.<br />
Hassan Farah Mighuil,<br />
Minister of Youth, Sports,<br />
H.E. HASSAN<br />
FARAH MIGHUIL<br />
Recreation &Tourism, to talk<br />
with him about his country’s<br />
North American marketing<br />
plans. Minister Mighuil, a member of the visiting delegation<br />
from Djibouti during its December multicity tour of U.S. and<br />
Canada to promote Djibouti’s hosting of the recent Africa<br />
<strong>Travel</strong> Association’s 11th Ectourism Symposium, held in<br />
January in Djibouti City. The delegation also included Mr.<br />
Mohamed Abdillahi Wais, Director, Djibouti National<br />
Tourism Office; Mr. Said Omar Moussa, President, Djibouti<br />
International Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Mr. Bugra<br />
Berberoglu, Director General, Djibouti Palace Kempinski<br />
Hotel) and Edward Bergman, ATA’s director, at Africa <strong>Travel</strong><br />
Association (ATA).<br />
<strong>Travel</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong>: Djibouti hasn’t been on most U.S. travel<br />
agents’ radar when suggesting Africa as a destination. Why is<br />
now the moment to become a viable “blip”?<br />
H.E. Hassan Farah Mighuil: First off, Djibouti is stable on<br />
all fronts, and our president, Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh, has<br />
made tourism development a priority. We’ve been concentrating<br />
on a more regional market — linking Africa, the Middle<br />
East and Asia — but now plan to promote our product worldwide.<br />
You see, in terms of hotels, accommodations, diving,<br />
we’re the only destination in East Africa offering such a highquality<br />
product. We’ve been working with European tour operators,<br />
and now are ready to approach North American<br />
agents and operators in order to open doors to our own<br />
unique product.<br />
MARY ELLEN SCHULTZ<br />
TWN: What sparked your interest in promoting Djibouti more<br />
aggressively in the U.S.?<br />
HFM: During Africa <strong>Travel</strong> Association’s congress in May<br />
[2007], I spoke with Eddie Bergman [ATA’s executive director]<br />
about having Djibouti host ATA’s next ecoutourism and<br />
cultural tourism symposium…as a good way to spotlight our<br />
country as a destination. In 2007, we received nearly 40,000<br />
tourists, and want to double that within the next few years. We<br />
want to be the gateway to East Africa, and we felt the symposium<br />
could be the key to unlocking the door to the U.S. market<br />
— to showcase our economic stability and tourist attractions<br />
and leverage them into something even more hopeful<br />
— tourism as a major investment and employment opportunity.<br />
[Editor’s note: A symposium report will appear in our<br />
April issue.]<br />
TWN: What would you say is Djibouti’s primary attraction?<br />
HFM: Our high-quality tourism product. We’re a small<br />
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4<br />
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<strong>Travel</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong> • www.travelworldnews.com <strong>AFRICA</strong> • FEBRUARY 2008 • 3
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