Cote d’Ivoire has been selected to host the inaugural “Investing in Tourism in Africa” global forum that is expected to attract more than 3,000 participants next year.
Tourism and recreation ministry said the resolution to convene the event in the West African country was made at the 23rd General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) held recently in St. Petersburg, Russia.
“This event, which will bring together investors, donors and support funds, will enable them to discover our country’s diversity,” said minister Siandou Fofana. He said the week-long forum “will allow this important sector to seize opportunities, sell its products and take advantage of the massive presence of so many private and multilateral investors”.
Cote d’Ivoire recently submitted a strategy document to the African Development Bank, seeking its support to implement a $5.8 billion tourism plan. The plan will see construction of the Abidjan Business City, a scheme to create a central point for holding conventions in the country, where there is currently no major conference centre that can accommodate 5,000 participants.
A leisure park will be constructed while the aviation sector will be developed to increase airport passenger flow to 3-million. Cote d’Ivoire is expecting to welcome 4-5 million tourists from 2025, which will make the industry the fourth economic pillar of the country. Travel and tourism contributed 10% to Cote d’Ivoire’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2018.
The country also seeks to become Africa’s fifth biggest tourism destination by 2025.
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