The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has initiated a capacity-building program aimed at enhancing tourism across its member states. The event, which began on March 17, 2025, in Banjul, The Gambia, seeks to equip stakeholders with tools to improve tourism standards and foster investment throughout the region.
This initiative follows approval from His Excellency, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission. Dr. Tony Elumelu, ECOWAS Director of Private Sector, emphasized the need for a unified regional approach to tourism development during the opening session. “Tourism is central to our integration agenda. This program is designed not just to share knowledge but to ensure the implementation of policies that will increase investment, create jobs, and enhance the sector’s contribution to the economy,” he stated.
The initiative operates under Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture Mrs. Massandje Touré-Litsé's leadership and aligns with ECOWAS’ goals for regional cooperation and policy harmonization. Dr. Elumelu highlighted the ECOTOR 1929 policy framework as crucial for standardizing services across member states. “A five-star hotel in Togo, Nigeria, or The Gambia should meet the same standards. Standardization builds trust and attracts investment,” he noted.
Tourism Consultant Sheikh Tijang Nyang stressed aligning all member states with this regional strategy: “For tourism to thrive, stakeholders must fully understand and apply ECOWAS’ tourism policies effectively.” Meanwhile, Tourism Experts Dr. Adam Abar and Dr. Momodou Bar focused on execution: “Policies alone do not drive change—implementation does.”
Participants will engage in technical sessions covering hotel classification and regulatory frameworks while addressing employment opportunities for youth and women in tourism—a reflection of ECOWAS’ commitment to inclusive economic growth.
The program will conclude with an assessment session where participants will define action points and discuss mechanisms for monitoring policy implementation at both national and regional levels.
Through this initiative, ECOWAS aims to advance economic integration by positioning tourism as a pillar for sustainable growth and job creation across West Africa.
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