Burkina faso: Under the theme ‘Competitiveness of tourism businesses and promotion of the Burkina Faso destination’, the 7th edition of the National Tourism Entrepreneur Award (PNET) highlighted the challenges and prospects of the Burkinabe tourism sector in a context of resilience. During a panel discussion led by specialists in the field, including the President of the Tourism Actors Network, Abdoulaye Sankara, and the Director General of Tourism, Monique Ouedraogo/Ilboudo, discussions focused on strategies for reviving national tourism and the need to improve the competitiveness of companies in the sector.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Mr. Sankara stated, “talking about tourism means talking about the market, and where there is a market, there is competitiveness.” He indicated that stakeholders must adapt to an economic environment marked by national, regional, and international competition. He also emphasized the quality of services and innovation as levers for building customer loyalty in all markets.
The panelist recalled that tourism, beyond its cultural aspect, contributes to the national economy. “When Burkina welcomes foreign visitors, it is a form of export, because they bring in foreign currency and contribute to economic growth,” he explained.
For her part, Ms. Monique Ouedraogo/Ilboudo noted that the theme of PNET 2025 reflects the need to revive tourism and reposition Burkina Faso as a destination. She called on stakeholders to be more resilient and innovative in order to strengthen the country’s attractiveness in the sub-region.
The Director General of Tourism also emphasized that competitiveness is assessed on several levels. “Burkina Faso, as a destination, is in competition with other countries. The public and private sectors must work together to achieve the set objectives,” she said.
The 2025 edition of the PNET aims to encourage creativity, professionalism, and excellence among tourism operators. It also provides a framework for consultation to identify the measures needed to revive the sector.
The participants emphasized the training of stakeholders, the modernization of reception infrastructure, and the promotion of the country’s cultural and natural potential as priorities to be implemented to strengthen competitiveness.
In conclusion, they agreed that the revival of national tourism relies on a synergy of actions between the public and private sectors, supported by appropriate communication and incentive policies. The objective is to make Burkina Faso a competitive and sustainable destination within the West African sub-region.