70 REPORT On a thin stretch of swamp land, just a few hundred metres from the Atlantic Ocean, Benin’s first 18-hole golf course is taking shape. The project was established following a directive from Benin’s president Patrice Talon to diversify the country’s economy – which is highly reliant on agriculture, particularly cotton – by developing industries such as tourism, banking and services. The Benin government identified the small town of Avlékété, near Cotonou, the county’s largest city and main port, as an ideal spot for a tourist development. It has, for several years, been establishing infrastructure, including roads, and working with various international tourist operators to prepare the area for tourism. Golf was identified as an important amenity. Bringing golf to Benin Photo: Afrikafun Production – Stephane Brabant Shaping is almost complete at Avlékété, and four holes are also now growing in Jeremy Pern and Gregori International are creating the first 18-hole course in the West African country, on an ‘almost perfect’ site that also includes a sacred grove and voodoo shrines.
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