On September 23, 2026, the Forum of Tourism Actors of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) convened in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on the sidelines of the 16th edition of the Ouagadougou International Tourism and Hotel Week (SITHO). Stella Christiane Drabo, Tourism Administrator, emphasized that the sovereignty of tourism in the AES region must be built. She argued that the performance of the tourism sector in the AES region should not be evaluated solely based on the number of visitors but also on the ability of the three countries to retain the value generated by tourist spending locally.
Drabo proposed that a key indicator for the tourism strategy should be the rate of retention of tourist spending. This involves determining how much of the 100 francs spent by a visitor remains in the AES region, covering operational costs of businesses, salaries, and public revenues. She noted that a country can host hundreds of thousands of visitors but retain only minimal benefits. This indicator, according to Drabo, will enable decision-makers to better assess the effectiveness of public policies dedicated to tourism and direct investments towards sectors that maximize local economic benefits.
The construction of a common tourist offer for the three states is, according to Drabo, a crucial step towards achieving tourism sovereignty. This involves structuring a competitive AES tourist product that leverages the complementarities of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The common destination should be built on shared elements, such as the Niger River, the legacy of great empires, and the richness of cultural and historical heritage, as well as the specificities of each country.
Drabo highlighted that the challenge lies not only in the existence of sites and heritage but also in their visibility. She stressed that the sites are not well-known because they have not been sufficiently promoted. In this strategy, priority should be given to proximity markets, including populations within the AES region, the diaspora, and business tourism. The goal is to allow AES citizens to discover their own space, better understand their heritage, and appropriate it.
To achieve this, Drabo suggested designing financially accessible offers adapted to local populations' realities. International markets can then be progressively reconquered, segment by segment, once the destination's bases are consolidated. She used the textiles of the three countries, such as Faso Dan Fani, bogolan, and Niger's weavings, as an example of how different but complementary practices can form a stronger fabric.
The construction of this common destination requires concrete conditions, including reinforced infrastructure to facilitate movement within the AES region. Drabo also advocated for the generalization of the AES passport and the establishment of a confederal tourist visa for visitors from outside, allowing them to move more easily between the three countries. She emphasized that the fluidity of movement is a foundation of a genuine integrated tourist destination.
Furthermore, Drabo recommended opening a dedicated tourism desk within the confederal bank to better support sector investments and actors. She also suggested delineating tourist zones and defining the types of infrastructure to be developed to avoid disorderly growth and ensure better coherence in tourist space planning.
Key points
- The tourism sector in the AES region should focus on retaining locally the value generated by tourist spending.
- A common tourist offer for the three states is crucial to achieving tourism sovereignty.
- The fluidity of movement within the AES region is a foundation of a genuine integrated tourist destination.
