Tourism and Tourist Information in Eritrea

Abstract

Reports on a survey designed to find out the role of tourist information in increasing tourist visits to Eritrea. The use of promotional channels like the Internet, magazines, brochures and others has been limited and tourist information about Eritrea was generally scarce. Shortage of funds and trained manpower were among the main challenges faced by travel agencies in promoting Eritrean attractions. The few information sources used by the Ministry of Tourism and by travel agencies were not easily accessible and not adequately detailed. They were also not effective in removing the negative perceptions of tourists about the political stability, health facilities and crime in the country. The information sources had done little to motivate tourists to visit the country. Eritrea should not promote its tourism industry before improving the tourism infrastructure.