Paradise island offers a unique experience
WORLD APART MADAGASCAR'S UNPARALLELED NATURAL ENVIRONMENT GIVES IT HUGE POTENTIAL FOR TOURISM. INVESTORS ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO TAKE A LOOK

FACING Africa to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east, a thousand miles long and 36 miles at its widest point, Madagascar is a land of fascinating variety and contrasts, and a dream come true for nature-lovers.
The island boasts a wealth of flora and fauna to explore, from giant chameleons and lemurs, to wild orchids and towering baobab trees. Indeed, most of the plants and animals are to be found nowhere else in the world. The scenery, too, is spectacular, with rainforests, canyons, volcanic ranges, and bays lined with sandy beaches.
Tourism is the country’s second-largest source of foreign currency reserves and is growing at an annual rate of 18 percent. Still at an early stage of development, the industry offers huge potential for investment.

OLIVIER HARNISCH General Manager of the Hilton Madagascar

To encourage investors, the government has designated special Tourism Land Reserves (Réserves Foncières Touristiques, or RFTs) for the development of beach and nature tourism. Investment rules have been relaxed and international companies can own 100 percent of the capital of a Madagascar tourism establishment.
Olivier Harnisch, General Manager of the 170-room Hilton Madagascar, has no doubt that the country has something unique to offer.

“Madagascar is one of the countries with the greatest wealth of resources in the world, in terms of tourism,” he says.
“These resources have not been used in the past, but now there are many initiatives by the government to develop the industry. Everyone who comes here remarks on the potential. The Malagasy people are very willing. They have a great attitude and are very patient.”

STANDING TALL giant baobab trees

The major challenge, Mr. Harnisch says, is to create an image for the country. “The first step is to reach the traveler who wants to experience nature, beaches etc—so that Madagascar is one of the three or four choices that comes to mind. That would be a big step forward. When we reach it we will be able to consider ourselves a tourist destination.”

Mr. Harnisch believes that the stability, safety, and infrastructure to welcome foreign tourists—exemplified by the Hilton Madagascar—need to be part of the island’s offerings."
Hilton has been managing the hotel for more than 30 years. Situated in the capital, overlooking Lake Anosy, the hotel is close to government offices and major international organizations. It offers international standards of service, including air-conditioning throughout, and a range of leisure and meeting facilities, restaurants and bars.

“We have the standards, the safety, the back up from the company—everything to cater for the needs of the international traveler,” says Mr. Harnisch.
He considers the U.S. market very important. “We have a lot of American customers, and we are very happy to have them,” he says.