2nd Ordinary Session

On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, under the chairmanship of Mr. Siandou FOFANA, Minister of Tourism and Leisure and President of the National Tourism Council (CNT), the 2nd Ordinary Session of the CNT took place at the Pullman Hotel, Abidjan Plateau, under the theme: “Revitalization, Skills Development, and Performance Enhancement of Travel Agencies.”

The session brought together 60 participants, including 27 statutory members, from public administration, local authorities, the private tourism sector, academia, and other resource persons. Its main objective was to assess the travel agency sector and identify measures to enhance competitiveness, especially after the pandemic and the 2021 suspension of new travel agency registrations.

The opening ceremony featured a welcome address by the CNT Executive Secretary, Dr. Jean-Marie Kouacou ATTA, followed by a cultural performance combining slam and Kora music. The keynote presentation by Mr. Alain KOUASSI, President of the Association of Travel Professionals in Côte d’Ivoire, highlighted the sector’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, emphasizing the need for digitalization, diversification, and focus on eco-tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events).

In his framing speech, Minister Siandou FOFANA underlined the strategic importance of travel agencies in driving business tourism and the overall tourism sector. He announced major projects in Abidjan and called for a comprehensive study to support sector reform and lift the suspension on new agency creation.

Discussions focused on financing, training, mapping, and sector regulation. Participants recommended establishing a working committee and commissioning a specialized study to guide the transformation of Ivorian travel agencies.

The session concluded in a spirit of collaboration, emphasizing the commitment to strengthen the skills and performance of travel agencies in Côte d’Ivoire.

Abidjan, July 23, 2025