Business Tourism Intensifies Competition in Francophone West Africa
Business tourism is emerging as a highly visible arena of competition in Francophone West Africa. Abidjan maintains a solid foundation, Dakar is seeking to revitalize its attractiveness, and Cotonou is accelerating its pace by multiplying major professional gatherings. Behind the scenes of congresses and trade shows, the stakes extend far beyond conference centers: hotels, restaurants, transporters, event agencies, and service providers are directly impacted.
The Global Scale of Business Events
The global market illustrates the magnitude of this activity. According to the Events Industry Council and Oxford Economics, business events gathered 1.65 billion participants across more than 180 countries in 2025. They generated $1.3 trillion in direct spending. When including indirect and induced effects, this activity contributed $1.8 trillion to the global GDP and supported 24.2 million jobs.
In this competitive landscape, data from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) allows for the measurement of a portion of the market. In 2025, the organization recorded nine international association meetings in Abidjan, six in Dakar, and three in Cotonou. At the national level, Côte d’Ivoire counted ten, Senegal nine, and Benin four. While these figures do not cover the entire MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector, they provide a comparable indicator of international congress activity.
Cotonou Accelerates
Benin has significantly increased its international appointments over the past two years. In February 2025, Cotonou hosted the Choiseul Africa Summit, which brought together approximately 350 African and European decision-makers. In June of the same year, the city hosted the 31st Africa Regional Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie. The Cyber Africa Forum also transferred its 2025 edition to Cotonou, following four previous editions held in Côte d’Ivoire.
This momentum continued into 2026 with the General Assembly of Insurance for All, organized by FANAF from July 6 to 8, followed by a United Nations regional meeting dedicated to passenger data systems, held on August 25 and 26. This rise in prominence is also supported by the hotel offer. The Sofitel Cotonou Marina, with 198 rooms, hosts professional events. Meanwhile, the Beninese government is preparing a facility of approximately 200 rooms associated with the Hilton brand, featuring meeting rooms and a business center, specifically to strengthen the country’s capacity to host international conferences.
Cotonou will also host the Cyber Africa Forum 2026 on November 16 and 17, as well as the AfriLabs Annual Gathering from November 18 to 20. The latter anticipates more than 1,200 participants from the fields of innovation, investment, entrepreneurship, and public policy.
Dakar Bets on Diamniadio
Senegal holds a historical advantage in hosting major events but is seeking to strengthen its presence in the international congress market. In 2025, Dakar recorded six international association meetings according to ICCA, compared to nine for Senegal at the national level in 2023. The strategy relies heavily on Diamniadio, where several infrastructure dedicated to large-scale events are concentrated, including the Abdou Diouf International Conference Center. The opening of the Four Points by Sheraton Dakar Diamniadio, with 173 rooms, has also reinforced the hotel offer near this event hub.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games constitute another lever. In its roadmap published in August, the Senegalese government explicitly integrated the development of the MICE industry into the Games’ legacy program. The objective is to transform the infrastructure mobilized for the sporting event into facilities capable of subsequently hosting congresses, conferences, and other international appointments.
Abidjan Maintains Heavy Infrastructure
According to ICCA 2025 data, Abidjan remains the leading city among the three in terms of the number of international association meetings, with nine events recorded. The Ivorian economic capital benefits primarily from an already structured ecosystem and high-capacity event infrastructure. The Abidjan Exhibition Park, inaugurated in 2023 after an investment of over 75 billion FCFA, features a 5,000-seat Convention Center and a total capacity of over 12,000 people. Its proximity to Félix-Houphouët-Boigny Airport is also an asset for international events.
Connectivity is part of the next development axes. On September 14, 2026, Côte d’Ivoire and Emirates concluded a protocol providing for cross-promotion actions, data exchanges, and initiatives aimed at tourism professionals. The Ivorian government is simultaneously working to strengthen Abidjan’s role as a regional air hub.
Broader Economic Stakes
For these three destinations, the economic stakes are broader than simply filling conference halls. A participant in a professional event also consumes accommodation, food and beverage, transport, and local services. The competition now hinges not only on the ability to attract events but also on converting their attendance into activity for the entire tourism and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
