Dostępność i rozpoznawalność jako czynniki kształtujące przestrzeń turystyczną Nigru

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the current state of tourism development in Niger. First, the theoretical model of the tourism space is introduced. It describes tourist mobility as dependent on the level of accessibility and recognition of a tourist destination. Then, the challenges and opportunities for tourism development in Niger are discussed, with reference to two levels of management, the country and the local. Niger, once a popular destination for desert tourism, suffers a significant decline in the number of international tourists arriving due to the unstable geopolitical situation and the threat of terrorism in the Sahel region. As the perspective of change for the better is unpredictable, the government switches to promote domestic tourism. Although highly important for creating and strengthening social capital, domestic tourism income is unlikely to fill the gap left by the retreat of international tourists. Still, it can help to maintain recognition of the local destination or even promote new ones. The paper presents and discusses two examples of tourism management on the local level: the artisans village in Dosso and the Bianou festival in Agadez. They clearly show that local tourism initiatives cannot be the result of externally imposed projects but should fit the local culture, goals, and priorities of residents.