West Africa: Ecowas Targets Stronger Tourism Sector in West Africa

What the report says

ECOWAS has approved a new framework intended to strengthen tourism business associations across West Africa, according to a report by Leadership distributed through AllAfrica. The policy sets out rules for recognizing and accrediting Regional Business Associations, with the goal of improving transparency, accountability, governance and the role these groups play in regional integration.

The framework was adopted at a consultative meeting of the Confederation of Tourism Associations of West Africa, or COPITOUR, in Abuja on July 30, 2026. The gathering included tourism stakeholders from Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Senegal, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire, along with representatives of the European Union and Germany’s GIZ. ECOWAS officials said stronger institutional structures are needed so private-sector tourism groups can contribute more effectively to development in the sub-region.

The report says the ECOWAS Commission also linked tourism to jobs, peace, investment, cultural exchange and broader economic growth, while urging COPITOUR to align with the ECOWAS tourism policy and the African Continental Free Trade Area. COPITOUR’s leadership called for stronger public-private partnerships and a more unified regional marketing strategy to help West Africa compete as a tourism destination. The adoption is expected to give tourism associations a stronger voice in ECOWAS policy discussions and improve their access to regional development programmes.