Big steps. The coastal region South West Madagascar, the Menabe, sheltering the forest of giant baobabs, took a heavy toll on tourism revenue last year. Tourism has generated nearly 780 million dollars in revenue 2016. The Menabe region has contributed a lot. "It is the second popular destination for foreign tourists after Nosy be", says Roland Ratsiraka at the opening of the ITM trade fair.
The arrival of cruise liners is the first explanation, according to the executive director of the Menabe tourist office, Hoséa Randriamanantena. "We have never hosted an ocean liner before 2016 », says he. "The Alley of the Baobabs is internationally renowned and this is the product that particularly attracts Asian crosierists such as the Japanese and the Chinese. We receive at least two liners per month. The number of tourists has thus quadrupled in one year ”, he adds. "An ocean liner brings some five hundred tourists. A special plane made a detour of just a few hours, Not long ago, carrying Japanese people who just wanted to see Baobab Alley. The region's tourist office has made efforts to promote the Menabe destination.

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An international magazine has ranked the Alley of the Baobabs as one of the ten weird and wonderful places to visit in 2017. The forest of Kirindy which shelters in particular the "fosa" and the diurnal and nocturnal lemurs fascinates the tourists.. As well as Kirindy Mite National Park which is a little further south, which is the favorite niche of flamingos, which are not found elsewhere except in Tsimanapetsotsa, in the South West region. Kimony beaches, the trip on the Tsiribihina river or the famous Tsingy de Bemaraha are the other flagship products of the Menabe region. "We are facing inadequate hospitality infrastructure, but two new large three-star hotels are currently under construction", inform the director. A great festival called "Baobab-fosa" whose concept is to combine these two products to attract even more tourists., be held from 20 the 22 July in Morondava. «The name of« fossa », predators endemic to Madagascar is drastically decreasing, also, the demonstration also aims to protect the animal ", underlines Hoséa Randriamanantena. A march to save the "fosa", races of all kinds, cultural events with renowned artists will animate this first edition. A large statue of the "fosa" is planned to be transported to the alley of the baobabs on this occasion.

Miran Ihariliva

Source > http://www.lexpressmada.com/blog/actualites/le-menabe-au-top-de-son-rayonnement/