Inv W AF Tourism

completed

This project has three components. . Component 1: Expansion of new markets for investment 1. Identify the right market(s): Map out all current and potential market segments, select/prioritize one/two that are seeing most growth, whose needs are currently unmet, and where the beneficiaries countries are competitive, and yields are high; 2. Identify the right destination(s): Based on market segments selected (e.g. regional family/youth resort market) – select best destination to grow into this identity (access, pricing, readiness, supply, features, ongoing/planned infrastructure developments); 3. Assess destination for readiness: Taking prime destination (and possibly one back-up), assess what needs to be done to develop destination and secure investments, develop practical recommendations to prepare the destination for investment; 4. Support program to enhance destination readiness for investment: Design and implement solutions based on recommendations in 3; 5. Map, prioritize, plan, prepare and profile individual investment opportunities that fit the needs of market and destination (demand/supply); 6. Secure investment(s): Support the government to take opportunities to market through targeted promotion to qualified investors, support with transactional advice if necessary. Component 2: Deepening of existing markets for investment and inclusivity This component will be carried out together with the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Commerce, Crafts and Promotion of SMEs, and a number of lead firms in the tourism business value chain. The following are likely activities to be confirmed upon completing activity (a). a. Establish lead firm partnerships and complete demand and supply opportunity assessment Undertake an analysis for increasing the participation of local employment and enterprises (local content) in the business tourism segment in the beneficiaries countries. b. Supplier upgrading support Provide high-potential category local supplier individuals or firms, particularly women-owned, with necessary support and technical assistance to overcome the barriers to competitive participation in the supply chain and wider value chain. c. Investment promotion for firms in the supply chain This activity will focus on identifying, packaging and promoting investment opportunities in the ‘high-potential’ categories of the supply chain. Investment may be domestic or foreign as long as they operate locally and therefore provide local jobs, incomes, and contribute to the development of local content in the supply chain. d. Policy and regulatory reform This activity will address and reform and national level policies and regulations that are constraining local participation in the business tourism value and supply chains. e. Technological solutions to local content development If confirmed through activity (a), the program will test an online marketplace where suppliers and buyers can cooperate to place or supply orders (overcoming some of the challenges of scale and transport cost) and find information, prices and reviews on potential suppliers or purchasers. Component 3: Regional knowledge sharing (West Africa) This component will organize and facilitate knowledge exchange, learning and capacity building on key tourism issues for stakeholders in West Africa, specifically stakeholders where the WBG is engaging in tourism. It will build on World Bank Group’s experience in tourism and strategic partnerships (e.g. Airbnb, UNWTO, TripAdvisor), lessons learnt from the implementation of the two previous components and knowledge exchanges