Côte d’Ivoire is stepping up efforts to make tourism a central pillar of its economic diversification strategy, with the government targeting stronger growth, job creation and an enhanced international profile for the West African nation.
Tourism Minister Siandou Fofana said on Thursday that the government aims to transform the sector into a “driver of economic growth” and position Côte d’Ivoire as a leading destination for modern and sustainable tourism in Africa by 2030.
Speaking at the opening of the National Tourism Council’s first ordinary session in Abidjan, Fofana said the country had already made notable progress under its “Sublime Côte d’Ivoire” strategy, launched in 2018.
He said the initiative has helped attract around 6.7 million visitors, generating more than 1.1 trillion CFA francs (about $1.9 billion) in tourism revenue, equivalent to roughly 8.7 percent of national gross domestic product.
The minister said these gains reflect improvements in infrastructure, including hotels, roads and airports, as well as stronger promotion of Côte d’Ivoire in international tourism markets.
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“The ambition is to make our country a true showcase of modern, sustainable and competitive tourism in Africa by 2030,” Fofana said.
Tourism has been identified by authorities as a key sector in Côte d’Ivoire’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on cocoa exports and expand services-driven growth in one of West Africa’s fastest-growing economies.
The government is currently developing several tourism hubs across the country, including in Abidjan, the economic capital, as well as Yamoussoukro in the centre, San Pedro in the southwest and Man in the western region.
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Officials say these hubs are intended to diversify the country’s tourism offerings beyond business travel and beach tourism, with a focus on cultural heritage, eco-tourism and conference facilities.
Côte d’Ivoire has experienced strong economic growth over the past decade, driven largely by agriculture, infrastructure investment and a growing services sector. However, policymakers are increasingly seeking to broaden the economy to reduce vulnerability to commodity price swings.
Tourism development is also being linked to employment creation, particularly for young people, in a country where job opportunities remain a key political and social priority.
The government has invested in upgrading transport links, expanding airport capacity and improving urban infrastructure to support rising visitor numbers and attract private investment into the hospitality sector.
Fofana said the next phase of the tourism strategy will focus on strengthening competitiveness, improving service quality and increasing the country’s visibility in global tourism markets.
Analysts say Côte d’Ivoire’s push reflects a broader regional trend in West Africa, where governments are increasingly turning to tourism as a diversification tool amid fluctuating commodity revenues and rising fiscal pressures.
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However, they caution that sustained progress will depend on continued investment in infrastructure, security, and marketing, as well as stronger coordination between public and private sector stakeholders.
If successful, officials believe the sector could play a growing role in Côte d’Ivoire’s ambition to become an upper-middle-income economy with a more balanced and resilient economic structure by the end of the decade.
