The government of Côte d'Ivoire has initiated a campaign to increase awareness and collection of the Tourism Development Tax (TDT) among local collectives and tourism operators in the East region of the country. The campaign, which was launched on September 22, 2026, at the prefecture of Abengourou, aims to strengthen the involvement of local collectives in sensitizing tourism operators to improve the collection of the tax. The meeting brought together representatives of local municipalities, economic operators in the tourism and leisure sectors, and officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure.
The campaign is a joint effort between the Tourism Development Fund (FDT), the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI), and the General Directorate of the Treasury and Public Accounting. The initiative seeks to enhance the understanding of the 2026 fiscal annex regulations related to TDT among tax services, municipal mayors, and municipal treasurers. This will enable better management, collection, and yield of the tax, ultimately increasing resources dedicated to tourism and leisure development in Côte d'Ivoire.
The TDT is a 2.5% tax levied on client invoices in taxable establishments, collected by tax services and then remitted to the Fund to support tourism development activities. The tax has been in effect since January 2022, and the current campaign aims to enhance its collection and boost revenue. Django Jean Mathias, coordinator of projects at the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure, emphasized the importance of a better understanding of the tax mechanism by operators, who are a crucial link in the collection chain.
The campaign also seeks to establish a file of taxable contributors, present innovations introduced by the 2026 fiscal annex, clarify the roles of different actors in the collection chain, and harmonize collection and remittance practices. By strengthening tax civicism, expanding the TDT base, and improving its collection and remittance, the government aims to increase resources for tourism and leisure development in Côte d'Ivoire.
Tah Geneviève, regional director of Tourism and Leisure, invited operators to view the evolution of TDT regulations as an opportunity for development, rather than a constraint. She assured them of her department's availability to accompany professionals in modernizing their facilities and leisure spaces. The exchanges between officials and professionals allowed for addressing concerns and strengthening engagement.
The meeting was presided over by the regional prefect, Kouadio Kouassi Eugène, who emphasized the importance of collaboration between local collectives and tourism operators in achieving the objectives of the campaign. The campaign will cover several local municipalities, including Abengourou, Bettié, Agnibilékrou, and Niablé.
Key stakeholders, including local collectives and tourism operators, have expressed their commitment to collaborating with the government to ensure the success of the campaign. The government remains optimistic that the campaign will yield positive results, ultimately contributing to the growth and development of the tourism sector in Côte d'Ivoire.
Key points
- The government of Côte d'Ivoire has launched a campaign to sensitize local collectives and tourism operators on the importance of collecting and remitting the Tourism Development Tax (TDT) in the East region of the country.
- The campaign aims to strengthen tax civicism, expand the TDT base, and improve its collection and remittance, ultimately increasing resources for tourism and leisure development in Côte d'Ivoire.
- The TDT is a 2.5% tax levied on client invoices in taxable establishments, collected by tax services and then remitted to the Fund to support tourism development activities.
