With scores of foreign tourists turning out to see the scenic ruins of Ouadane, officials see the northern region as key to reviving the tourism sector.
Perched hundreds of kilometres northeast of the Mauritanian capital, the historic city of Ouadane last week attracted scores of cultural officials, foreign visitors and tourism sector professionals.
The second edition of Mauritania's "Festival of Ancient Cities" concluded in Ouadane on Friday (February 10th). The annual festival is held in one of the four ancient towns (Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichitt and Walata) classified as "heritage sites" by UNESCO.
"The Mauritanian government was able to break the siege imposed on the northern areas because of security conditions, prompting around 136 European tourists to take part in this festival in defiance of the warnings of some Western countries," Mauritanian Culture Minister Cisse Bint Beida said.
France classified the north of Mauritania as a "red zone" after the 2007 Aleg slaying of a French family by al-Qaeda terrorists. The move took a heavy toll on the local tourism industry. Despite the French travel alert, most visitors to the six-day event came from Spain and France.
Many Western tourists were eager "to discover the great cultural and heritage inventory comprising the wealth of Mauritania's historic cities, such as displays of manuscripts, types of traditional industries, popular folklore, traditional music and ancient meals, as well as to enjoy the desert atmosphere in the city of Ouadane," Spanish tourist Habi Fernandez told Magharebia.
The number of visiting tourists "reflects the efforts of the Mauritanian side to enhance the security aspect, proving Mauritania is a more secure country - contrary to what some are propagating", Mauritanian Tourism Minister Bamba Ould Daramane said.
"We have a plan to upgrade tourism in the state of Adrar, which includes the Ancient Cities Festival in its second edition," Mint Eddouwa, director of the Mauritanian Tourism Office, said. "And we aspire for the media to play a major role in achieving that goal and to show the security side in tourist areas, allaying concerns that spread previously."
Ouadane mayor Eddada Ould Eslama said, "There is no doubt that this event contributes to reviving the past of our glorious nation's cultural, social and economic dimensions, especially in this atmosphere of security, stability, national unity, social justice and local development, which was a place of national consensus through dialogue."
The festival lends a new cultural elegance to Ouadane and gives the event a special flavour, Ould Eslama said. The mayor also praised the "significant financial support that was granted for this edition".
The funding for the event amounted to 215 million ouguiyas (565,000 euros), according to Bint Beida.
The money was spent on "the city's development and showcasing its cultural treasures, which reflect the cultural diversity of Mauritania, making this event a cultural and heritage teacher", the minister said.
Visitors polled by Magharebia said that they felt safe and appreciated the historical value of the city. Many said they were willing to come back.
Catherine Laprouss Pana, an aid worker from France, has been visiting Mauritania for 13 years.
"This blockade to which Mauritania was subjected because of security concerns does not please me at all, just as it does not please many Europeans who are used to enjoying security in this country," she said.
"If I possessed any official authority, I would reject this blockade because Mauritania is a safe country, and all that is said about classification of the states of northern Mauritania as a red zone involves great exaggeration," she added. "We have been deprived of enjoying the character of these areas, with their good population and simplicity."
© Magharebia.com 2012
