Dine Bouraima Receives Africa Travel 100 Global Leaders Award in Lagos
Lagos
Hon. Dine Bouraima, a prominent leader in the African tourism industry, was honored with the prestigious Africa Travel 100 Global Leaders Award at the 20th edition of the Akwaaba African Travel Market. The event, held at the Eko Hotel and Suites Convention Centre in Lagos, celebrated key players and influencers who have made significant contributions to the development and promotion of tourism across the continent.
Bouraima Mouinou Dine, President of the Consortium Touristes Par Millions au Bénin (CTM-BENIN), which unites all the tourism stakeholders in Benin, also serves as Administrator at the Confederation of Private Organizations in the Tourism Industry of ECOWAS (COPITOUR ECOWAS), led by Mamoudou Racine SY, and as Vice President of the African Tourism Board (ATB), headed by Cuthbert Ncube.
In his acceptance speech, Bouraima reiterated his commitment to intensifying efforts to advance the African tourism landscape: “I am grateful to the organizers of this award, and it motivates me to redouble my efforts in my role within the African tourism sector. I will not relent.”
Bouraima’s role in the African tourism sector has been transformative. Under his leadership, CTM-BENIN has played a crucial role in promoting Benin as a leading tourist destination, focusing on sustainable tourism development and creating collaborative partnerships across the region. His involvement in the African Tourism Board further highlights his dedication to enhancing Africa’s global tourism presence, fostering intra-African travel, and promoting the continent’s rich cultural heritage.
Since 2015, under Bouraima Dine’s leadership, efforts have been made to facilitate the entry of tourists into Benin and across Africa. These efforts have been strongly supported by the President of Benin, Patrice Talon, a staunch advocate of tourism development. Thanks to this strong institutional backing, Benin became one of the few African countries to grant visa exemptions to African citizens in 2018, while also introducing an e-visa system to simplify entry procedures for tourists from other continents.
Plaque of the Africa Travel 100 Global Leaders Awards 2024 presented to Hon. Dine Bouraima at the recently held Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos, Nigeria
Within just five years, this initiative led to a significant increase in tourism in Benin, with a notable rise in African visitors between 2018 and 2023. The tourism sector now contributes approximately 7% to Benin’s GDP, showcasing the direct impact of mobility facilitation policies on the country’s economy. Additionally, Benin has witnessed an increase in foreign investments in its tourism infrastructure, demonstrating the growing attractiveness of the country.
This progress positions Benin at the forefront of African integration in tourism, opening its borders to Africans without administrative barriers. However, Bouraima Mouinou Dine envisions going even further: his greatest wish is for all African heads of state to adopt this approach, enabling free movement of people across the continent. Currently, less than 10% of African countries offer visa exemptions to their neighbors, significantly limiting regional growth opportunities. Such a shift could stimulate intra-African tourism, which still accounts for only 5% of international travel by Africans.
In the near future, once free movement of people is established, Bouraima hopes that policies will follow to facilitate the free movement of goods. This gradual approach could not only strengthen African unity but also boost economic growth through seamless and unhindered trade exchanges. According to some studies, removing trade barriers could increase intra-African trade by 52% by 2025, particularly with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
For Bouraima Dine, opening borders represents more than just administrative convenience; it is a vision of a united continent where Africans can travel, trade, and prosper together, celebrating their diverse cultures and participating in inclusive economic development.
The award was presented to Dine Bouraima, President of CTM-Benin and Vice President of the ATB, by Ambassador Ikechi Uko, the initiator of this initiative.
The Africa Travel 100 Global Leaders Award recognizes individuals who have had a remarkable impact on the travel and tourism industry in Africa and globally. With Bouraima’s influence extending beyond Benin to continental initiatives, this recognition is a testament to his unwavering dedication to promoting Africa as a vibrant and diverse travel destination.
As Vice President of the African Tourism Board, Bouraima has led various internal initiatives such as the creation of Commissioners’ Portfolios and Global Ambassadors’ Offices, aimed at fostering global engagements for the ATB and other external initiatives to improve connectivity, infrastructure, and policy support for tourism growth across Africa. His vision aligns with the broader goals of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which seeks to position tourism as a key driver of socio-economic development in Africa.
The Akwaaba African Travel Market, now in its 20th year, continues to serve as an essential platform for stakeholders in the African travel and tourism industry to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and celebrate achievements, with leaders like Dine Bouraima and other award recipients.
