The 16th edition of the Salon international du tourisme et de l’hôtellerie de Ouagadougou (SITHO) was officially launched on September 22, 2026, at the Parc d’exposition du SIAO in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The event, themed "Financement des projets structurants : un levier pour le développement du tourisme" (Financing structuring projects: a lever for tourism development), aims to transform the country's tourism potential into economically viable projects.
The ceremony was presided over by Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, who emphasized the need for investments in infrastructure, accommodation, site development, mobility, training, and digital solutions to develop the tourism sector. He noted that mobilizing adapted financing is crucial to making the sector competitive and attractive. The Prime Minister called on stakeholders to facilitate connections between tourism project owners and available financing sources.
The SITHO brings together public and private sector actors in tourism, as well as delegations from Mali and Niger, which are the special guest countries. The Guiriko region is being honored at the event. Prime Minister Ouédraogo highlighted the role of traditions, museums, crafts, and cultural heritage expressions in making destinations attractive. He also stressed that tourism can serve as a tool for valorizing heritage and fostering rapprochement between peoples.
The Malian Minister of Crafts, Culture, Hospitality Industry, and Tourism, Mamou Daffé, advocated for an integrated Sahelian tourist destination. He proposed mutualizing expertise and resources, co-financing structuring projects, and jointly promoting historical sites, crafts, and gastronomy. The cooperation between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger is a significant aspect of this edition of the SITHO, with a Forum of tourism actors from the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES) planned to explore possibilities for sharing experiences and developing common projects.
The Prime Minister recalled that the growth of tourism depends on the ability to ensure conditions that allow visitors to move around safely. He praised the commitment of combat forces and honored the resilience of sector professionals, encouraging them to continue innovating, professionalizing, and improving service quality. After the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister and delegations visited the exhibitors' stands to discover the proposed destinations, products, and services.
The SITHO 2026 will feature professional exhibitions, business meetings, excursions, contests, dedicated days for special guest countries, and cultural and gastronomic activities until September 27. The event aims to facilitate meetings between professionals that can lead to partnerships and concrete projects.
The event is expected to boost the tourism sector in Burkina Faso and promote regional cooperation. Key stakeholders are gathered to discuss and explore opportunities for growth and development in the sector.
Key points
- The 16th edition of SITHO focuses on financing projects to develop the tourism sector in Burkina Faso.
- The event promotes regional cooperation and an integrated Sahelian tourist destination.
- The SITHO brings together public and private sector actors in tourism to facilitate connections and partnerships.