São Tomé, October 29, 2025 (ECA) — For the first time, São Tomé and Príncipe can accurately measure the economic impact of its tourism sector. Thanks to the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the country has validated its inaugural Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA), a strategic instrument that places data at the heart of public policy.
The TSA report, validated during an ECA-organized national workshop by key stakeholders (public sector, central bank, private sector, etc.), definitively establishes tourism as a major pillar of the economy, comparable to traditional sectors like agriculture and fisheries.
Tourism: A proven economic powerhouse
The data speaks for itself: Tourism accounts for 11% of GDP and 10% of Gross Value Added; 96% of tourist consumption comes from international visitors, confirming the country's strong attraction but also its external reliance; In 2024, tourists spent 2.85 billion dobras on arrival versus 0.25 billion on departure, generating a net positive balance for the balance of payments; Tourists stay for an average of 18 days, a strong indicator of visitor loyalty.
"The Tourism Satellite Accounts are not just a statistical tool; they are a strategic lever for transforming data into action, and action into growth," stated Jean Luc Mastaki, Director of the ECA Sub-regional Office for Central Africa. "São Tomé and Príncipe now has a foundation of credible data to build a more competitive, sustainable, and locally connected tourism policy," he added.
Call for diversification and resilience
While the potential is high, the report identifies critical areas for improvement: Nearly 80% of spending concerns accommodation and catering, while less than 1% is dedicated to culture, leisure, and shopping. This highlights an urgent need to diversify the tourist offer around heritage, nature, and artisanal products; the country loses some of the value created due to import leakage (total consumption: 3.09 billion dobras and national tourism production: 2.09 billion).
Clear strategic pillars for action
To boost the sector's competitiveness and resilience, four strategic pillars have been suggested: broaden the range of tourist attractions; encourage local initiatives and dialogue (linking hotels with farmers, fishermen, and artisans); update the TSAs every 2 to 3 years and implement regular surveys; improve air connectivity, service quality, and continuous training/certification.
Nilda Borges de Mata, Minister of Environment, Youth, and Sustainable Tourism, emphasized the government's commitment: "These results provide the country with a clear compass to guide its tourism development. We now know where the value is, where it is lost, and how to capture it for the benefit of all São Toméans".
The ECA and the UN System have reiterated their commitment to supporting the country in implementing these recommendations and deploying a evidence-based tourism policy.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org