Libreville, Tuesday 30 June 2026 – Gabon is determined to turn its exceptional biodiversity into an economic driver. By unveiling its new national sustainable tourism and handicraft strategy, the government is launching an ambitious project that goes far beyond the tourism sector. Behind this roadmap lies a new vision for national development, based on valuing natural capital, creating jobs, and diversifying an economy still heavily reliant on extractive resources.
At the Cité de la Démocratie in Libreville, top state officials, technical partners, diplomats, and private sector representatives gathered for the official presentation of a strategic document set to redefine tourism’s role in Gabon’s economy. With traditional economic models showing their limits and ecological transition becoming a global priority, Gabon aims to turn its forests, national parks, culture, and handicrafts into sustainable growth assets.
Minister of Sustainable Tourism and Handicraft, Professor Marcelle Ibinga épouse Itsitsa, set the tone by emphasizing that tourism is not just an economic activity. In her view, it is a tool for territorial development, an identity showcase, and a powerful investment lever capable of transforming regions sustainably.
71 projects to scale up
The government’s ambition rests on a simple observation. Despite internationally recognized potential, Gabon’s tourism sector has never fully exploited its strengths. Diagnostics presented during the ceremony highlighted institutional, legal, and organizational shortcomings that have hindered the emergence of a real tourism industry for decades. To break this deadlock, the strategy includes 71 priority projects. Investments target modernizing infrastructure, improving sector governance, professionalizing operators, developing ecotourism circuits, and promoting historical, cultural, and handicraft heritage. The stated goal is clear: significantly increase tourism’s contribution to GDP while preserving the ecological integrity that makes the country unique.
In a continent where many states seek to convert natural wealth into economic opportunities, Gabon holds a rare competitive advantage. Over 88% of its territory is forested. Its national parks are among the best preserved in Africa. Its fauna, flora, and landscapes constitute a global heritage whose economic value remains largely underutilized.
An economy that can no longer work in silos
The success of such a strategy depends on a key factor: coordination of public action. Minister of Industry Lubin Ntoutoume stressed that no single ministry can meet this challenge alone. Developing tourism necessarily involves infrastructure, transport, culture, environment, water and forests, land planning, and vocational training. This integrated approach reflects an important shift in economic governance. Tourism is no longer seen as a peripheral sector. It becomes a catalyst capable of driving multiple industries simultaneously, stimulating private investment, and creating jobs in areas far from major urban centers.
Handicraft also plays a strategic role in this vision. By promoting local know-how, it helps preserve cultural heritage while generating income for thousands of families.
The moment of truth
The appointment of actress and producer Nelly Obono as the face of the national tourism caravan, and artist Annie Flore’s commitment to provide her song “Je t’invite” free of charge for the country’s promotion, show the determination to fully involve cultural actors in this momentum. But beyond symbols, the real challenge now is execution. Vice President Alexandre Barro Chambrier called on all administrations, local authorities, and economic operators to take ownership of this strategy to turn it into tangible reality. The official handover of the strategic document and the immediate announcement of a team to oversee its implementation mark the shift from reflection to action.
The third edition of the National Tourism Caravan, scheduled from July 17 to September 6, will be the first real test of this new policy. For Gabon, the challenge goes beyond simple tourism development. It is about demonstrating that a nation can turn environmental protection into a driver of prosperity. In a world seeking more sustainable economic models, this strategy could make the country one of the most promising African laboratories of the green economy.
