We knew about pony baptisms, now here are camel rides.
Proposed this Saturday near the Molière des Mureaux center, this unusual activity was part of a day of discovery of Mauritania, an event jointly organized jointly by the City and the new management of the ONTM, the national tourist office of the West African country.
It was a question of laying the first stone of the new tourist policy of this small state of 4 million inhabitants, determined to find its future visitors on French soil.
“The development of tourism is a priority for the government and France is a traditional partner, explains Mohamed Hjour, promotion director of the ONTM.
We want to forge partnerships in 24 municipalities, and it was the City of Les Mureaux that first reached out to us”.
The presence of a small Mauritanian community in the city of Yvelines also plays its role.
"This allows relay, to create a fabric", underlines Fatimatou El Mechry, another representative of the office.
The young woman, dressed in her traditional outfit, said she regretted that “Mauritania is still an unknown destination” although “perfectly secure”.
A destination that she also specifies is “within reach of all budgets”.
“Propose something real”
In an attempt to lure the inhabitants of Les Mureaux and to "contact the tourist directly", the ONTM had bet on a conference with documentary films, on traditional music, and on culinary discovery workshops.
But also and above all on these four dromedaries who came for the occasion from a camel farm in the north of France.
“The dromedary is very important for us, continues Fatimatou El Mechry.
He is one of our symbols.
With their presence here, we wanted to bring a bit of Mauritania to France, to offer something real.
The idea is that people can experience, enjoy and want to do it again.
But on the dunes this time.
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The dunes, Odile is not there yet.
At 78, this resident of Mureaux has never flown, preferring the motorhome for escapades limited to metropolitan France.
"But we don't have the opportunity to see camels every day", laughs the septuagenarian who first came "out of curiosity".
From Mauritania, she has the image of “a very colorful country”.
But “except to win the lottery”, she will “probably never set foot there”.
"There is the dream of travel and the reality of everyday life"
"It's first of all a question of finances," says Hocine.
This 30-year-old dad, who has come to approach camelids with his children, does not close the door.
"But there is the dream of travel and the reality of everyday life," he asserts, removing his son's hand from the camel's incisors.
"Impressed", Illyés refuses to approach the animals.
“It's the first time I've seen them,” says the little boy, not really reassured at the idea that we can ride them.
"I can't, I'm going to get dizzy," he declines.
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“It's an impressive animal, which seems deceptively slow”, judges Jean-Marc, who has “already tried in Egypt”.
The retiree, who has already "traveled quite a bit in Africa", does not seem insensitive to the charms of Mauritania and "its very diverse landscapes" between "desert and oasis".
So why not ?
he wonders.
A small start for the ONTM.
“The goal is already that people are talking about it, to make our country known everywhere, concludes its representative.
Tourism also involves word of mouth.
