BURUNDI SCOOPS TOP PRICE AT ITB
The recently concluded International Tourism Bourse in Berlin / Germany saw little Burundi outshine all other African exhibitors, when taking first price for their stand display and presentation at their first appearance. Traditional dancers and a ‘homestead’ setting convinced the judges, and visitors for that matter, that the Burundi exhibition stand deserved to be honoured as ‘Best African Exhibitor’.
Fancied Rwanda, accustomed to taking top spot, this year came a respectable second and to the surprise of many, Tunisia, just emerging from a violent overthrow of their government, occupied third position.
East African tourism giants Kenya and Tanzania did not make it to the top three, as incidentally did South Africa fail to get into the top rankings, while the absence for instance of the Seychelles amongst the top three, offering an impressive performance again in their 2011 appearance, was generally regretted.
Meanwhile though it is congratulations to Burundi, and this award will hopefully change their tourist board’s communication and PR practice to the better, as they have in recent years been largely ‘mute’ and non-responsive to enquiries and pro-active marketing methods.
