Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Siandou Fofana, has announced plans to transform the country's tourism sector by leveraging digitalization and artificial intelligence. This initiative is part of the country's strategy to become a smart tourist destination by 2026. The minister made this announcement on the occasion of World Tourism Day, celebrated on September 27, with the theme "Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence for Rethinking Tourism."
The tourism sector in Côte d'Ivoire has shown significant growth in recent years, with over 6.7 million visitors in 2025. The sector now contributes 8.7% to the country's GDP and has generated over 650,000 jobs between 2018 and 2025. The country's accommodation capacity has also increased to nearly 87,000 rooms. These achievements are part of the "Sublime Côte d'Ivoire" strategy launched in 2018, which aims to structure the tourism offer, enhance the destination's attractiveness, and stimulate investments and employment.
The second phase of the "Sublime Côte d'Ivoire" strategy, covering the period 2026-2030, will focus on digital transformation, development of domestic tourism, diversification of the tourism offer, and mobilization of private investment. Several major projects are underway, including the development of a high-end hotel complex on the former BNETD site, a new hotel complex on the current Golf Hotel site, and the Akwaba Parc Oriental de Songon. The goal is to increase the country's accommodation capacity and upgrade its tourism offerings.
According to Minister Siandou Fofana, the future of tourism in Côte d'Ivoire will depend on data and technology to better understand visitors, personalize their experiences, and distribute tourist flows across the country. The government aims to create a smart tourist destination that uses artificial intelligence to improve access to information, personalize itineraries, and promote the country's cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and ecotourism.
The digital transformation of the tourism sector will also focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and local actors. The government wants to make digital tools accessible to all professionals, regardless of their size, to enhance their visibility, better understand their customers, and adapt their offers to new markets. This approach will also help to promote local destinations and provide them with better access to markets.
The minister emphasizes that the development of artificial intelligence must be accompanied by guarantees, including the protection of personal data, cybersecurity, consumer protection, and transparency. The impact of AI on employment is also a concern, but the minister believes that tourism will remain a fundamentally human activity that relies on hospitality, service, and experience. AI is seen as a tool to improve the performance of businesses, open new markets, and create new jobs in the tourism sector.
The government aims to make tourism a sector that creates wealth and jobs, drives territorial development, and promotes Côte d'Ivoire's international reputation. To achieve this, the government will focus on training young people, supporting professionals, and developing startups. This approach will enable Côte d'Ivoire to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the tourism sector and create new economic opportunities for its population.
Key points
- Côte d'Ivoire aims to become a smart tourist destination by 2026, leveraging digitalization and artificial intelligence to enhance visitor experience and competitiveness.
- The country's tourism sector has shown significant growth, with over 6.7 million visitors in 2025 and 650,000 jobs generated between 2018 and 2025.
- The government will focus on training young people, supporting professionals, and developing startups to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the tourism sector.
