Togo collected CFA49.9 billion in tourism revenue from other West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries in 2023, according to new data from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) on regional tourism flows. The report ranks Togo among the top beneficiaries of intra-community travel.
The largest contributors to this income were Côte d’Ivoire (CFA17.7 billion), Burkina Faso (CFA13 billion), and Benin (CFA10.5 billion). Together, these three neighboring countries accounted for 82% of Togo’s total earnings from WAEMU-based tourists.
Senegal, Mali, Niger, and Guinea-Bissau also contributed smaller but notable amounts to Togo’s tourism revenue.
Togo’s spending abroad
In the same year, Togolese tourists spent CFA41 billion while traveling within the WAEMU region. The top destinations were Benin (CFA18.3 billion), Senegal (CFA8.2 billion), and Côte d’Ivoire (CFA5.8 billion). This left Togo with a net positive tourism balance of CFA8.9 billion, marking a surplus of incoming foreign exchange for the sector.
Despite its small size, Togo continues to promote its diverse range of landscapes, cultural sites, and natural attractions. These include the UNESCO-listed Koutammakou, sandy beaches along the Gulf of Guinea, the Kpimé waterfalls, northern savannas, equestrian festivals in the central region, and traditional Evala initiation rites in the Kara region.
Beyond leisure tourism, Togo has also set its sights on developing business tourism, an ambition still in progress.