Monument to National Heroes in Burkina Faso honors the iconic figures and martyrs of Burkinabè history. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/The black photographer
By Face2Face Africa
Despite security challenges, the tourism sector in Burkina Faso made close to $165 million in 2025, highlighting the sector’s resilience and its immense role in the country’s economy.
The latest figures were disclosed by the Minister in charge of tourism, Gilbert Ouédraogo, during the inauguration of a new hotel in Kaya, about 100 kilometres from the capital, Ouagadougou, as reported by Business Insider Africa. The tourism minister said the performance is proof of the sector’s “capacity to withstand external shocks,” amid insecurity.
According to Ouédraogo, accommodation providers, including hotels and lodging services, accounted for the largest share of revenue — generating about $123 million of the total revenue.
Business Insider Africa cited data from the Directorate General of Tourism, which showed that earnings from travel and tourism operators also contributed $40 million, bringing total sector revenue to approximately $163 million for the year. This marked a significant increase from the $150 million recorded in 2024.
Analysts believe that the growth was due to increased overnight stays and higher average visitor spending. In other words, although total visitor numbers did not increase much, each tourist spent more than before.
Per the latest figures, domestic tourism continues to be the mainstay of the industry, accounting for 78 percent of the 630,379 visitors recorded in 2025. Over 490,000 were local travelers who toured various destinations within the country, while international arrivals were roughly 139,000.
In recent times, the government has been boosting local travel through cultural festivals and awareness campaigns, and this is certainly producing positive results as more citizens are being inspired to explore the West African country’s various attractions.
Authorities now project that tourism revenue could surpass $175 million in 2026 if nothing changes, backed by factors such as policy support, the Insider reported.
Since the military government seized power in Burkina Faso, rights groups have been accusing it of leading brutal campaigns targeting civilians in response to attacks by al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM, the biggest jihadist group in the country.
Ibrahim Traoré seized power in September 2022 after overthrowing Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had assumed power only nine months earlier. Traoré, 38, has gained a massive following across Africa for his criticism of Western influence and support for pan-Africanism.
This week, his government rejected a report that claimed that over 1,800 civilians have been killed in acts linked to “crimes against humanity” in the three years since he seized power.
The government said on Sunday that the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report was “false”, adding the report has “only one purpose… to demonise” the country’s troops, who have always fought with “professionalism”, BBC reported.