Benin has approved a $1.4bn strategic plan to develop its tourism, culture and arts sectors between 2025 and 2029, part of a wider push to more than double the sector’s contribution to the country’s economy, according to Ecofin Agency.
The plan, worth XOF797.17bn ($1.4bn), was adopted at a Council of Ministers meeting on June 11, 2025, and aims to attract 2mn visitors a year while raising tourism’s share of gross domestic product from 6% to 13.4% by 2030. The strategy is structured around three priorities: modernising the Ministry of Tourism’s operations, expanding the country’s tourism offerings, and promoting culture and the arts as pillars of Benin’s wider creative economy.
As part of the expansion, Benin has introduced three new ecotourism circuits focused on cultural heritage, environmental conservation and local gastronomy, according to Travel And Tour World. The cultural heritage route covers Ouidah’s historical sites and the UNESCO-listed Royal Palaces of Abomey, once the seat of the Dahomey Kingdom. A nature-focused circuit takes visitors to Pendjari National Park, one of West Africa’s principal wildlife reserves, while a gastronomic route highlights local agricultural traditions and regional cooking methods in support of farmers and independent food businesses.
The government has trained 100 tourism professionals to guide international visitors along the new routes, according to Benin’s Ministry of Tourism. Plans under the wider strategy also include upgraded heritage sites, new museums, additional beach resorts and luxury hotels, alongside improvements to hospitality, catering and transport services.
A steering committee bringing together relevant government and industry stakeholders has been established to oversee implementation of the plan. Officials have positioned tourism, culture and the creative industries as key drivers of economic diversification for Benin, as the country seeks to expand its profile among West African destinations built around cultural heritage and nature-based travel, alongside neighbours such as Ghana and Senegal.