//

Capacity building on Tourism Development in Cape Verde, Africa

Capacity building on Tourism development in São Vicente and Santo Antão, Cabo Verde

Project Funded by RVO Netherlands and Ministry of Tourism in Cape Verde
This is a project funded by Netherlands Enterprise Agency called RVO (https://english.rvo.nl/) in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Transports of Cape Verde.
Breda University of Applied Sciences as an institute with an extensive expertise in Destination Management was selected to conduct this project. We are a team of interdisciplinary professionals and scholars working on this project. Details below:
Goals of the project – The What
The purpose of this project is to strengthen the economic benefits of the local Cabo Verdean tourism sector by improving the destination position of the islands Santo Antão and São Vicente. By diversifying their tourism services potential to serve new market segments their position is likely to improve in the tourism industry. The project aim is to diversify, professionalize and promote the tourism offer of both islands, by training the local private tourism sector and to consolidate a bottom-up strategic action plan.
Action Plan – The How
Tourism is increasingly recognized as one of the key economic sectors of Cabo Verde. The diversity of the islands of Cabo Verde makes it attractive as a tourist destination. Each island is unique and offers a great diversity in nature, history, culture, heritage, culinary arts, etc. However it requires a strategy for the development of tourism that facilitates and incentives the local tourist industry and promotes tourism to the islands
The action plan of this project includes several work packages and phases, each with its own context and dynamics.
The first phase is about : To obtain a better understanding of the current situation of tourism in Santo Antão and São Vicente in order to be able to determine gaps, the priority needs and necessary next steps in the development of a local tourism strategy. Important here to  identify and align the interests of the various direct stakeholders and indirect stakeholders,
The second phase is about formulating an inclusive strategy that takes account of global and regional tourism trends, the competitive environment and available resources,  of the skills and capacity of the management of the local tourism supply chain private businesses and tourism and travel associations on Santo Antão and São Vicente through a participatory and collaborative process in order to be able to react adequately and innovatively to the ongoing opportunities and developments in global tourism.
Then: to create and/or consolidate an effective and feasible multi-stakeholder platform in which all relevant stakeholders can participate and work together to further design and implement the strategic tourism action plan in order to be more effective and efficient in developing and promoting tourism and hospitality activities on the islands of Santo Antão and São Vicente.
Final phase will be to disseminate and showcase results and achievements.

To see how our first visit went click here!