XI. BUSINESS TRAVEL SENEGAL IS SERVED BY A LARGE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES, INCLUDING DIRECT SERVICE FROM NEW YORK VIA AIR AFRIQUE. THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY OFFERS ASSISTANCE AND COUNSEL TO U.S. BUSINESS TRAVELERS VISITING SENEGAL. THEY SHOULD CONTACT THE COMMERCIAL OFFICER WELL IN ADVANCE BY TELEFAX AT (221) 22-29-91 OR BY PHONE AT (221) 23-42-96. CORRESPONDENCE MAY BE SENT BY DOMESTIC U.S. MAIL TO THE ECONOMIC-COMMERCIAL SECTION, U.S. EMBASSY DAKAR, DPT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20521-2130 (TRANSIT TIME: 2 WEEKS), BY INTERNATIONAL AIRMAIL TO B.P. 49, DAKAR, SENEGAL (TRANSIT TIME: VARIABLE, ABOUT 10 DAYS) OR BY AN INTERNATIONAL AIR EXPRESS COMPANY (TRANSIT TIME: 3-4 DAYS). BUSINESS TRAVELERS MAY ALSO CONSULT WITH THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION (ITA) DESK OFFICER BY TELEPHONE AT 202-377-4388. BUSINESS CUSTOMS SENEGAL HAS INHERITED FRENCH COMMERCIAL TRADITIONS. COMPETITION FROM WELL-ESTABLISHED FRENCH AND LEBANESE BUSINESS INTERESTS CAN BE VERY VIGOROUS. BUSINESS PRACTICES, ACCOUNTING METHODS AND LEGAL PROCEDURES MAY BE UNFAMILIAR TO A U.S. BUSINESSMAN WHO MAY, HOWEVER, OBTAIN APPROPRIATE ADVICE FROM LOCAL PROFESSIONALS. AMERICAN BUSINESS PERSONS MAY FIND THAT LOCAL DECISION-MAKING OPERATES AT A SLOWER PACE THAN IN THE UNITED STATES. REPEATED PERSONAL CONTACTS ARE OFTEN NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH BUSINESS PARTNERS. AMERICANS MAY PERCEIVE THE SENEGALESE BUREAUCRACY AS SLOW-MOVING, REQUIRING PATIENCE AND DETERMINED FOLLOW-UP. VISAS A PASSPORT IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY. VISAS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR STAYS OF LESS THAN 90 DAYS. U.S. CITIZENS NEED ONWARD OR RETURN TICKETS. EVIDENCE OF A VACCINATION FOR YELLOW FEVER MAY BE REQUIRED AT THE PORT OF ENTRY. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, TRAVELERS MAY CONTACT THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL, 2112 WYOMING AVENUE, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C., 20008, TEL: (202) 234-0540. TRAVEL ADVISORY CURRENT TRAVEL INFORMATION ABOUT SENEGAL AND OTHER COUNTRIES IS AVAILABLE AT TEL. (202) 647-5225, VIA THE CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETIN BOARD AT TEL. (202) 647-9225 OR VIA FAX FROM (202) 647-3000. THE CONSULAR INFORMATION SHEET OF FEBRUARY 18, 1994, NOTED THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: SENEGAL IS A DEVELOPING WEST AFRICAN COUNTRY. FACILITIES FOR TOURISTS ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE ALTHOUGH OF VARYING QUALITY. AREAS OF INSTABILITY: ALTHOUGH THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN THE CASAMANCE AREA OF SOUTHERN SENEGAL HAS NOW STABILIZED, THERE REMAINS A SIZABLE CONTINGENT OF GOVERNMENT SECURITY FORCES IN THE AREA. REPORTS SUGGEST ROAD CONDITIONS IN THE CASAMANCE ARE POOR, AND DRIVING CAN BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. THE U.S. EMBASSY RECOMMENDS THAT NIGHTTIME DRIVING BE AVOIDED AND THAT TRAVEL BE ON MAJOR ROUTES ONLY. AIR AND SURFACE TRAVEL BETWEEN MAURITANIA AND SENEGAL RESUMED IN APRIL, 1992; HOWEVER, SURFACE TRAVEL IS RESTRICTED TO SEVERAL DESIGNATED BORDER CROSSING POINTS. MEDICAL FACILITIES: MEDICAL FACILITIES ARE LIMITED, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL, DAKAR. U.S. MEDICAL INSURANCE IS NOT ALWAYS VALID OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE WITH SPECIFIC OVERSEAS COVERAGE HAS PROVED TO BE USEFUL. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAYBE OBTAINED THROUGH THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL'S INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS HOTLINE AT (404) 332-4559. INFORMATION ON CRIME: STREET CRIME IN SENEGAL POSES MODERATE RISKS FOR VISITORS. MOST REPORTED INCIDENTS INVOLVE PICKPOCKETS, PURSE SNATCHERS, AND STREET SCAM ARTISTS. WALLETS, JEWELRY AND OTHER VALUABLES ARE SUBJECT TO THIEVERY, ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES OF INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS OR EVENTS WHICH DRAW LARGE CROWDS. THE LOSS OR THEFT ABROAD OF A U.S. PASSPORT SHOULD BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY TO LOCAL POLICE AND TO THE NEAREST U.S. EMBASSY OR CONSULATE. THE PAMPHLETS "A SAFE TRIP ABROAD" AND "TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS TO SUB-SAHARIAN AFRICA" PROVIDE USEFUL INFORMATION ON PROTECTING PERSONAL SECURITY WHILE TRAVELING ABROAD AND ON TRAVEL IN THE REGION IN GENERAL. BOTH ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D.C., 20402. DRUG PENALTIES: U.S. CITIZENS ARE SUBJECT TO THE LAWS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH THEY ARE TRAVELING. STRICT LAWS REGARDING POSSESSION OR TRANSPORTATION OF DRUGS ARE ENFORCED. REGISTRATION: U.S. CITIZENS WHO REGISTER AT THE U.S. EMBASSY MAY OBTAIN UPDATED INFORMATION ON TRAVEL AND SECURITY IN SENEGAL. EMBASSY LOCATION: THE U.S. EMBASSY IS LOCATED ON AVENUE JEAN XXIII IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF DAKAR. THE MAILING ADDRESS IS B.P. 49, AND THE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS (221) 23-42-96. HOLIDAYS THE FOLLOWING HOLIDAYS ARE OBSERVED IN SENEGAL: JANUARY 1 (NEW YEAR'S), APRIL 4 (INDEPENDENCE DAY), 1ST MONDAY OF APRIL (EASTER MONDAY), MAY 1 (INTERNATIONAL LABOR DAY), AUGUST 15 (ASSUMPTION DAY), NOVEMBER 1 (ALL SAINT'S DAY), AND DECEMBER 25 (CHRISTMAS DAY). FOLLOWING ARE HOLIDAYS MOVEABLE ACCORDING TO THE RELIGIOUS CALENDARS: KORITE, TABASKI, TAMXARIT, MAWLUD, ASCENSION DAY AND PENTECOST (IN MAY). BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE SENEGAL HAS RELATIVELY WELL-DEVELOPED INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES OF WEST AFRICA. AS THE LONGTIME CAPITAL OF FRENCH WEST AFRICA, DAKAR WAS FAVORED IN RECEIVING TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES. THE COUNTRY HAS THE SECOND-LARGEST PORT OF WEST AFRICA AFTER ABIDJAN AND AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT DAKAR. INTERNATIONAL CLASS HOTELS ARE AVAILABLE IN DAKAR. THEY INCLUDE THE 5-STAR MERIDIEN PRESIDENT (TEL. 20-21-21 AND 20-15-15) AND THE MODEST DIARAMA HOTEL (TEL. 20-01-45 AND 23-10-05) NEAR THE AIRPORT; THE SAVANA NEAR DOWNTOWN BUT IN A SECLUDED GARDEN SETTING (TEL. 23-60-23 AND 23-68-77); AND, IN THE BUSINESS DISTRICT, THE TERANGA HOTEL (TEL. 23-10-44), THE NOVOTEL (TEL. 23-10-90 AND 23-88-49), THE INDEPENDENCE HOTEL (TEL. 23-10-19), THE LAGON II (TEL. 23-58-31 AND 23-60-31); MORE MODEST HOTELS DOWNTOWN ARE THE AFRITEL (TEL. 23-13-12 AND 23-28-95) AND THE GANALE (TEL. 21-58-54). INTERNATIONAL CALLS TO MOST COUNTRIES CAN BE DIALED DIRECTLY. THE COUNTRY CODE IS 221. CABLE, TELEX AND FAX SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE. DAKAR IS ON GREENWICH MERIDIEN TIME, FIVE TIMES ZONE AHEAD OF EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST). BANKS ARE OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 8:30 AM TO 12 NOON AND FROM 1:30 PM TO 3 PM. CITIBANK IS THE ONLY U.S. BANK PRESENT IN SENEGAL. THE PRINCIPAL LANGUAGE OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS IN SENEGAL IS FRENCH. VERY FEW BUSINESS PERSONS IN SENEGAL CAN COMMUNICATE COMFORTABLY IN ENGLISH. PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETATION IS AVAILABLE BUT IS VERY EXPENSIVE -- TYPICALLY USD 400-500 PER DAY FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS. HEALTH AND FOOD THE GENERAL LEVEL OF HEALTH IS GOOD. MALARIA IS A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. MALARIA PROPHYLAXIS IS RECOMMENDED SINCE THERE IS A HIGH INCIDENCE OF CHLOROQUININE-RESISTANT MALARIA IN SENEGAL; TRAVELERS SHOULD BEGIN TAKING A RECOMMENDED ANTIMALARIAL DRUG AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BEFORE ARRIVAL. YELLOW FEVER IMMUNIZATION DURING THE PREVIOUS 10 YEARS IS MANDATORY TO ENTER SENEGAL. TRAVELERS SHOULD DRINK ONLY BOTTLED WATER, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT MOST FOOD STORES, HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES SHOULD BE PEELED OR COOKED.