• Benin launches $1.4 billion five-year tourism development plan
• Target: 2 million annual visitors and 13.4% GDP share from tourism by 2030
• Strategy includes infrastructure, visa reforms, and cultural promotion
Benin has approved a $1.4 billion strategic plan to develop its tourism, culture, and arts sectors over the 2025–2029 period. The plan aims to attract two million visitors annually and increase the tourism sector’s contribution to GDP from 6% to 13.4% by 2030.
Adopted at the Council of Ministers meeting on June 11, 2025, the 797.17 billion FCFA ($1.4 billion) plan seeks to transform these sectors into drivers of sustainable development and global visibility.
The strategy is built around three priorities: modernizing the Ministry of Tourism’s operations, expanding tourism offerings, and promoting culture and the arts as pillars of the creative economy.
To oversee implementation, a committee including all relevant stakeholders will be established. The government plans to expand the national tourism portfolio with upgraded heritage sites, new museums, beach resorts, and luxury hotels, along with improvements in hospitality, catering, and transport services.
To support the initiative, Benin has already invested over €2 billion in infrastructure and destination branding. Additional reforms include lifting visa requirements for several countries and deploying e-visa services to simplify entry.
• Global coffee consumption projected to hit a record 169.4 million 60-kg bags in 2025/2026, up from...
• Algeria grants commercial 5G licenses to top three telecom operators: Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo...
• Investors seem to keep focusing on yields, which are high for the moment• New Leadership might see...
• Kenyan President William Ruto signs strategic partnership with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to b...
• IFC teams up with AfDB and Nigeria’s EbonyLife to assess a new fund for African cinema• Sector cou...
• Nigerian Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited debuts vessel aimed to service the cabotage market in the country, and potentially beyond. • The move...
• Kamoa-Kakula, DRC's largest copper mine, boosts production by 31% to 245,127 tonnes in H1 2025, despite a temporary halt in operations in...
• The IMF has approved an immediate disbursement of $367 million to Ghana, bringing the total financial support provided to the country since May...
• The African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) adjustment fund grants a $10 million loan to Telecel Global Services to boost digital connectivity and...
Located about 40 kilometers from Cape Town’s city center, Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town is one of the Cape Peninsula’s most iconic destinations. This...
The Gerewol tradition is a fascinating ritual celebrated by the Bororo Fulani, a nomadic community primarily located in Chad and Niger. This annual...