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Tourism has become a pillar of the development strategies of the South. For Senegal, it is both an international showcase and a major economic lever.
With its sunny coastlines, rich heritage, cultural and musical diversity and recognized hospitality, Senegal has an undeniable tourism potential, capable of generating foreign exchange, jobs and supporting related sectors such as agriculture, fishing and crafts.
However, international experience shows that tourism development without regulation produces major negative externalities: erosion of the coast, artificialization of territories, weakening social and cultural balances, increased dependence on imports and marginalization of local communities.
Senegal does not escape these risks. The growing pressure on the Petite-Côte, the fragility of the Saloum and Casamance ecosystems, the precariousness of tourist jobs and the persistence of seaside models inherited from the 1980s are all warning signs. This episode questions the conditions for sustainable tourism, controlled and respectful of the country's soul.
