BUJUMBURA July 4th (ABP) – The Director General of the Burundi Discovery Foundation (FBDF), Mr. Jérôme Hakizimana indicated, on Friday, June 30, 2023, during the official launch of the tourism and environment festival, called Iziko Festival, that this foundation wants Burundi to be a best tourist destination in Africa.
According to him, Iziko festival is a project of the FBDF, which was created with the aim of contributing to the economic and social development of Burundi, through the promotion of tourism and environmental protection.
He also specified that this festival is an environmental tourist event, but also a competition in search for the best cultural-tourist talents, at the same time a fair and exhibition of Burundian cultural heritage.
Moreover, he underlined, this festival will significantly contribute to the sensitization and the mobilization of the whole community, to contribute to the promotion of the image of the country.
On that occasion, Mr. Hakizimana recalled that in 2018 in Burundi, the tourism sector generated around 30.30 million euros. This corresponds to 0.14% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But, he said, for Burundi, tourism contributed just 3.5% to GDP in 2019 and the sector remains largely underdeveloped considering its bountiful natural landscapes, rich fauna and flora of Burundi.
It is worth recalling that the dates of the Iziko Festival event are set from September 28 to 30, 2023, at the Cercle Nautique in Bujumbura.