To achieve its programmatic goals, Solimar focused on two parallel actions. The first was capacity building and training. Working with local partners such as OMATHO (The Ministry of Tourism) and the Mission Cultural de Bandiagra, Solimar developed tourism training programs tailored to the local tourism business needs (as expressed by the business owners and managers) and the local capacity. As a large number of tourism managers and their staff could not read or write and the facilities they operated catered to a backpacker/hiker market a training program in entry-level tourism management, customer service, hygiene, and sustainable operations was developed with the primary use of pictures and role play educational methodologies.
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The second focus for Solimar and its local partners was enhancing awareness about Pays Dogon as a tourism destination. Solimar did this through outreach and coordination with the media to help highlight the destination, development of a regional website in collaboration with OMATHO that promotes the businesses, attractions, and activities available in the region, as well as coordinating with local tour operators to help to link them to tourism markets and promote their experiences. |
