The 16th edition of the International Tourism and Hospitality Fair of Ouagadougou (SITHO) kicked off on September 22, 2026, and will run until September 27. The event was officially launched by Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo. This year's theme is "Financing structuring projects: a lever for tourism development." The fair aims to bring together professionals from the tourism and hospitality sectors, investors, institutional representatives, and partners to discuss the challenges and prospects of the tourism sector.
The Malian and Nigerien countries are special guests at this edition, while the Guiriko region is the invited region of honor. Over six days, attendees will engage in business-to-business meetings, exchanges with various stakeholders, exhibitions, tourist excursions and stays, contests, and cultural evenings. A forum for actors in the tourism sector of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) will also be held, providing a platform for discussions on cooperation, experience sharing, and tourism project development.
Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo emphasized that the fair's theme reflects a major concern: creating conditions for Burkina Faso's tourism potential to transform into viable economic activities, jobs, and opportunities for the population. He stressed that tourism development requires significant investments in infrastructure, equipment, accommodation, mobility, training, and promotion, as well as digital solutions to keep up with the times.
The Prime Minister highlighted that mobilizing adapted financing is a crucial challenge for the sector's competitiveness and attractiveness. He called for strengthening mechanisms to support tourism projects, increasing available financing sources, and promoting private investors to create an environment conducive to the emergence of structuring and sustainable projects.
The tourism sector is considered a strategic lever for economic growth, job creation, and cultural valorization. It also contributes to the preservation of natural resources and the development of territories through infrastructure modernization. The Prime Minister encouraged all tourism actors to continue working towards innovation and the sector's growth in Burkina Faso.
Malian Minister of Culture Mamou Daffe invited all AES tourism actors to work together to find innovative and structuring projects for attractive tourism in the AES space. He encouraged festival-goers to develop fruitful partnerships for tourism development. The event is expected to lead to the creation of solid partnerships and the identification of new opportunities for the sector.
The SITHO 2026 edition is expected to be a pivotal moment for Burkina Faso's tourism sector, as it seeks to unlock new financing opportunities and partnerships to drive growth and development. The fair will provide a platform for stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions and explore new prospects for the sector.
Key points
- The 16th edition of SITHO is themed "Financing structuring projects: a lever for tourism development."
- The event aims to bring together professionals from the tourism and hospitality sectors, investors, and institutional representatives.
- The fair will feature a forum for actors in the tourism sector of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
