Benin: the belly of history. (Tourism). From: African Business | Date: December 1, 2002| Author: Williams, Stephen | COPYRIGHT 2002 IC Publications Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

Although Benin may not be the most obvious tourist destination in West Africa, it is determined to improve infrastructure, attract international investment and increase tourist numbers. STEPHEN WILLIAMS was a recent visitor to this historically important country.

Benin, formerly known as Dahomey or simply the Slave Coast, has a history as colourful, complex and at times brutal, as any African country. Years of post-independence repressive Marxist command-economy policies...