Senegal positions itself in Europe as a 'sun and beach' destination in winter

11-09-23

A destination can have more than enough skills to delight visitors, such as white sandy beaches, clear waters, culture and even quality hotels, but its success will always depend, to a large extent, on direct flights to activate tourist flows.

This dependence on air routes has turned tour operators into key figures in the growth of tourism in Spanish destinations such as the Balearic and Canary Islands; a pattern that is being repeated in one of Africa's main emerging destinations: Senegal.

Direct flights have put this West African country on the winter sun map for the British market. An example of this is TUI, which was already promoting the destination, hand in hand with Spanish hotelier RIU, and which for the winter of 2024 will even bring the flights forward even further, starting on 7 October.

Also committed to the destination is the specialised tour operator The Gambia Experience, which not only offers direct flights to Dakar, but also offers connections via river ferry after landing in Banjul (Gambia). Karen Durham, product manager for The Gambia Experience, points out that Senegal, unlike other destinations, offers a taste of African culture and French-influenced cuisine (along with local dishes), and wildlife experiences where you can witness big game in its natural habitat.