By Ali Abdillahi Ahmed | June 2025 | Mogadishu
After decades of disruption, Somalia is revitalizing its economy through tourism revival. Before conflict, Somalia welcomed tens of thousands of international visitors annually. They explored the misty Daalo escarpments, relaxed on Lag Badana’s golden shores and Eyl’s pristine beaches, and marveled at Laas Gaal’s ancient rock art. Similarly, Mogadishu offered vibrant museums, Sufi shrines, and historic neighborhoods like Hamar-Weyne. The civil war halted this momentum, damaging infrastructure and displacing communities. Yet Somalia’s legendary hospitality endured, preserved by families, elders, and cultural custodians who safeguarded the nation’s heritage.
Crucially, decisive security advances over the past three years have liberated regions previously under terrorist group control, reopening critical corridors and restoring nationwide overland travel. Consequently, this hard-won stability has ignited diaspora-driven investment and local entrepreneurship, with banks, telecom firms, and hospitality pioneers establishing boutique hotels, restaurants, and tourism services across Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Garowe, and Baidoa. A clear sign of growing international confidence is exemplified by Turkey’s strategically located 3-star Decale Airport Hotel at Mogadishu’s aviation gateway. Furthermore, bolstered by legal reforms and resumed international flights, Somalia is rapidly emerging as a competitive tourism and investment destination. A major milestone was the recent opening of Mogadishu’s Gateway Complex featuring the country’s first internationally branded five-star hotel, the Mogadishu Rotana.
As captured in Figure 1 below: At the inauguration, President H.E. Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated: “Today, we lay the foundation not just for a building, but for the soul of Somali tourism. This project embodies our commitment to peace, progress, and prosperity.”
President Mohamud Launches Gateway Complex, Anchoring Somalia’s First International 5-Star Hotel.
Figure 2: Echoing this sentiment, the Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Hon. Daud Aweis Jama, reinforced this national commitment:
“Through strategic reforms, we are repositioning tourism as a pillar of national development and inclusive economic growth.”
To achieve this, the Ministry is revising the National Tourism Policy to align with East African Community (EAC) standards and national goals, while simultaneously developing a forward-looking National Tourism and Hospitality Strategy. This roadmap prioritizes service quality across accommodations and tourist sites, as well as natural assets wildlife reserves, national parks and. Importantly, the inclusive drafting process engages federal/state institutions, the private sector, civil society, and the global Somali diaspora.
Moreover, Somalia’s entry into the East African Community (EAC) signals a bold new chapter in the nation’s journey toward regional integration and economic revitalization. For the tourism sector specifically, this move unlocks vast opportunities by harmonizing service standards, training programs, and classification systems with regional benchmarks. Therefore, by aligning with EAC protocols, Somalia is enhancing service quality and professional capacity while positioning itself as a competitive destination for regional travelers. Beyond regional integration, Somalia’s global engagement is underscored by its membership in the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) since 2017. Ultimately, this deeper integration is expected to amplify cross-border tourism, drive joint marketing efforts, and attract investment fueling sustainable growth within East Africa’s thriving tourism ecosystem.
While challenges remain, the government is prioritizing solutions under its flagship National Transformation Plan. This strategy includes vital infrastructure upgrades to improve road access to key tourism sites and enhance regional air travel affordability, alongside advancing workforce development and environmental conservation. As illustrated in Figure 2, the landmark “Priority Sector Investment Report: Investment Opportunities in the Somalia Tourism and Hospitality Sector”, produced by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MoICT) in collaboration with the Somalia Investment Promotion Office (SOMINVEST) 2023. Crucially highlights the sector’s significant employment impact, documenting 32,679 jobs nationwide: 12,214 in hotels and 20,465 in restaurants. Furthermore, on visitor data collection and sectoral evidence-building, Mr. Abdullahi Hayir Duale, Director General of MoICT, emphasized: “The Ministry is collaborating with the Somalia National Bureau of Statistics (SNBS)as our Technical Statistics Partner and the Immigration Office to collect essential visitor entry and exit data. Together with hotels, we are working to produce a comprehensive report on visitor data which will provide a clearer picture of tourism’s GDP contribution to Somalia’s economy. This allows for the development of evidence-based tourism policies, planning, and investment.”
Figure 2: Employment Distribution in Somalia’s Tourism and Hospitality Sector (jobs)
Somalia’s revitalized tourism and hospitality sector stands as a cornerstone of the national economy, directly fueling growth and creating vital employment pathways for the nation’s youth. Anchored by the government’s unwavering commitment through the National Transformation Plan, this revival is about more than visitors it’s actively rebranding Somalia’s global image. By showcasing its stunning landscapes, ancient heritage, and legendary hospitality to the world, Somalia is transforming perception into opportunity. This strategic focus promises not only sustainable economic diversification but also empowers a new generation and proudly redefines Somalia’s place on the global stage.
Article written by
Ali Abdillahi Ahmed
Director, Tourism, Hospitality and Wildlife Department
Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism Federal Republic of Somalia
Email: ali.abdillahi@moi.gov.so Contact: +252 61 7683712
http://Website: www.tourism.gov.soLings
https://sominvest.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/Hospitality-Sector-Study.pdf
