The University of Abomey-Calavi hosted from January 25 to 27, 2022 the very first international symposium on tourism in the Republic of Benin. An initiative carried by the High School of Hotel Management and Tourism (HEHT- UAC-Benin) and supported by the High Provincial School of Hainaut-Condorcet (HEPH-Belgium). This meeting brought together several actors of the sector from Benin, the sub-region and Europe. After three days of intense work the results are satisfactory and open the way to new perspectives for the development of the sector in Benin.
Tourism, Environment, Society and Sustainable Development is the theme around which the scientific and professional actors of tourism have reflected during three days. Objective, think better about tourism while proposing models and mechanism effective enough in favor of its development and opening to the rest of the world. It is this spirit of openness that led to the partnership with the High Provincial School of Hainaut-Condorcet (HEPH-Belgium) and the University of Abomey-Calavi which facilitated this organization.
What to remember from these three days of activity?
It is a multidisciplinary conference. A total of 90 communications were given, 67 of which were face-to-face and 23 remote, divided into eight (08) axes and ten (10) panels.
Indeed, the discussions focused on climate, history, physical and human geography, religion, spirituality, culture, heritage, gastronomy, society, sustainable development, law, territorial governance etc. The communicators came from almost all African countries but also from France, Belgium and Canada. Researchers, teachers, students, NGO leaders, representatives of private and state institutions and tourism specialists shared with the audience the results of their various researches which were well received by the public who also contributed. The many themes addressed have allowed to confront the realities between the North and the South and vice versa.
Highlights and impressions of the actors and participants.
The top of the work of the said conference was given on January 25, 2022 in the amphitheatre HOUDEGBE to end last January 27 by a closing ceremony in the same place. On the other hand, the communications took place in the building of the Master of Integration and Regional Development (MIRD-UAC).
The president of the organizing committee, Professor Expédit VISSIN, was delighted with the first positive results of the partnership between his school and the High Provincial School of Hainaut-Condorcet (HEPH-Belgium): “Thank you for the sponsorship, thank you for the organization, thank you for the success. The sector needs all of us and this first symposium opens the way for new perspectives” he affirms. On this occasion the professor also had the support of the rectorate and the presence at his side of former rectors of the UAC such as Prof. Brice SINSIN, Prof. Da-CRUZ and the current vice-rector of the UAC. Dr. Stéphanie CRABECK, Coordinator of HEPH-Condorcet/Lab-réseau Ulysse of Belgium, Vice-president of the organizing committee expressed her gratitude to her collaborators, participants, students and many others who made this project possible. “We thank the UAC for its foresight in training professionals in the field,” she said. In addition, Benin has a very rich tourist heritage but for its development, the question of basic training, education and research arises. Because, the quality of training will make the quality of tomorrow’s professionals as well as the quality of the strategic choices which will be proposed for the development of tourism and the valorization of the territory, she concludes.
For Eric MASSIN, head of the Belgian delegation and MP for the province of Hainaut in Belgium, “tourism must no longer remain in its ivory tower. It must feed on others, it must accompany others, it must participate with others fully in their economic life”. Nevertheless, he highlights two elements that he considers important for this conference. “Tourism cannot be decreed, it must be learned,” he says. It is to promote this learning that this partnership was born and will grow over time. He also praised the organizing committee for the quality of their work.
“This conference represents a big opportunity for Benin because the scientific world is beginning to take an interest in tourism,” explains Dr. VIEYRA Emmanuel, one of the participants in this conference. The students learned a lot from this meeting..
It should be noted that on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of this historic event, students who have defended their license in Hotel Tourism (LHT), and Tourist Guiding (LGT) for the academic year 2020-2021 have received their diploma of completion.
The last stage of this meeting continues with a two-day excursion to the lake city of Ganvié and the Sitatunga valley until the 29th.
At the end of the work, organizers and participants were pleased to hold such an international meeting with a scientific scope. It should be noted that this conference could have been organized since 2020 but postponed several times because of the covid-19.