Côte d’Ivoire seeks to attract more German tourists through new industry partnerships

Côte d’Ivoire is seeking to strengthen its position in the German tourism market by bringing local tourism operators closer to German professionals and adapting its tourism offering to the expectations of German travellers.

A session dedicated to the habits, expectations and consumption patterns of German tourists was held in Abidjan on September 3, bringing together travel agencies, tour guides, tourism operators, leisure companies and other professionals from the tourism, hospitality and catering sectors.

The meeting, organised by the Berlin Tourism and Leisure Office with the support of Côte d’Ivoire’s National Tourism Council, was aimed at improving local operators’ understanding of one of Europe’s largest international tourism markets.

Opening the session on behalf of Tourism and Leisure Minister Siandou Fofana, Chief of Staff Daniel Andi Leal urged Ivorian tourism professionals to draw on German standards of professionalism, reliability and discipline to improve the quality of services offered to international visitors.

The discussions highlighted the need for Côte d’Ivoire to offer travellers more than conventional tourism packages. Participants stressed the importance of developing authentic experiences that allow visitors to discover local communities, culture, nature and gastronomy while respecting the environment.

Potential attractions include Taï and Comoé national parks, the historic town of Grand-Bassam, the traditions of northern Côte d’Ivoire, the country’s coastline and its culinary heritage.

Hanna Kleber, president of Kleber Group, identified credibility, authenticity and sustainability as key factors for destinations seeking to attract and retain German travellers.

The economic potential of the market is significant. German travellers spend more than €24.7 billion annually on international travel, according to figures cited during the meeting. Côte d’Ivoire is seeking to capture a larger share of that spending as part of the second phase of its “Sublime Côte d’Ivoire” tourism strategy.

The initiative comes as Côte d’Ivoire seeks to diversify its international tourism markets and increase the economic contribution of the sector. Rather than relying solely on beach tourism or traditional sightseeing, authorities are promoting a broader offer built around ecotourism, cultural heritage, gastronomy and authentic experiences.

For Ivorian tourism operators, the challenge will be to turn the country’s natural and cultural assets into structured, reliable and commercially attractive tourism products that meet the expectations of German visitors.

The government’s approach also highlights the importance of partnerships between Ivorian and German tourism professionals, including travel agencies, tour operators and destination specialists.

For Côte d’Ivoire, winning a larger share of the German market will ultimately depend not only on promoting the destination, but also on improving service quality, strengthening professionalism and delivering the consistency expected by international travellers.

The September 3 meeting therefore represents part of a broader effort to position Côte d’Ivoire as a more competitive destination for European travellers and to convert growing international interest into tourism spending, business partnerships and investment.