When he returned to Djibouti in 2019 in Benin 14 years later, entrepreneur Yacoub Aden Miguil rediscovered the breathtaking country of natural wealth. For a year he traveled the length and width of the country, from Asar Lake, the continent's lowest point and the salty waters of the continent, to coral reefs and spectacular marine life near Tajra, one of the oldest cities in the country, to coral reefs and spectacular marine life of one of historic importance: coral reefs and spectacular marine life.
From this tour across the country he was convinced that there was little development of Djibouti's tourist potential. This helped him produce dalma, an application that connects tourists, hoteliers, restaurants and local guides, and lay the foundation for a viable tourism ecosystem.
At the end of 2023, his project received the $16,000 Presidential Award, a testament to the growing interest of sector authorities.
This is an encouraging initiative, and Djibouti has a treasure trove of joy for tourists in search of new and authentic discoveries, but it is a gem of rough and unpolished shape. This is an ongoing work from a tourism location planning and development perspective, and training key personnel in the sector.
Tourism has become a government priority and is the main plank of a strategy to diversify the economy from reliance on port activities.
Osman Abdi Mohamed, director of the National Tourism Bureau, said the arrival of 100,072 people in 2024 (until September) shows a positive trend. It is expected that by 2030, the target for 200,000 visitors per year will be listed.
Today, tourism represents only 3% of the country's GDP, which is below the median African value. The government wants to double that within 10 years.
Tourism is also a great generator of work. The overall plan is ecological tourism focused on dealing with business and leisure tourism by developing beach resorts and diving centres and discovering Djibouti's archaeological and prehistoric sites.
The marketing strategy aims to place “Destination Djibouti” on the international calendar. To attract more visitors, the price of Djibouti's entry visa has been reduced from $80 to $12 for tourists and business travelers, and a simplified online system has been enacted.
Natural sites are promoted. Djibouti has many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Lake Abbe and Lake Assal, Dei Forest National Park, paintings of the Bronze Age burial Tburi or Awolos, and Abulma Caves.
At the same time, the hotel sector is booming. Djibouti City currently has 40 facilities compared to 32 in 2018.
New high-end hotels have opened, including the Escale International Hotel (150 rooms), the Djibouti Ayla Grand Hotel (217 rooms, 217 rooms built by Abu Dhabi Group Nayel & Bin Harmal), and the Best Western Premier (64 rooms, near the old town).
“This expansion is evidence of the efforts made in the development of the tourism sector and the investment made in the city's hotel infrastructure,” says Abdi Mohamed of Ottoman.
Several new projects have been announced. There has been a transformation into integrated tourist facilities in the Musha Islands and some of the Mascari Islands, with the initial phase of foreign direct investment of $1 billion. The development of day complexes for ecotourism enthusiasts. The old port of Djibouti has been renovated to create a charming centre that combines shops, leisure activities and cultural heritage.
Adventure and culture have been promoted
Djibouti also develops ecological and adventure tourism brands with local initiatives promoting iconic nature sites.
In the Grand Rose Desert, sandy yachts have been revived to attract customers for thrills. The Dikil region offers a more immersive tourist experience, combining accommodation in the heart of nature with discoveries of the surrounding landscape.
Djibouti – At the intersection of Arab, African and European influences, it also aims to promote its cultural heritage. The capital's historic centre, with colonial buildings and lively markets, is an asset, but still isn't much integrated into the tourism circuit.
Several projects aim to rehabilitate and enhance the charm of the old town. “Tourism should not be limited to the landscape, it should tell a story too,” says a player in one industry. We believe this cultural aspect will be a real appeal to visitors.
Business tourism, developed more than leisure tourism, enjoys solid momentum. This is driven by foreign military bases and major logistics projects that put Djibouti at a strategic crossroads.
The country already welcomes a major stream of military personnel, diplomats, financiers, airline crews and government delegations, but its contribution to leisure tourism could be even greater. We consider encouraging these foreign experts to expand their stay beyond their official missions.
Improved tourism projects
One of the main obstacles to the development of tourism is the lack of accommodation outside the capital. With the exception of the Tajra Gadire Resort hotel, which opened in 2020 with 60 rooms and was built by Djiboutian businessmen, the area's hotel infrastructure is limited.
Another major obstacle is the exorbitant cost of airline tickets. To improve this, Air Djibouti is about to organize a viable offer. “Without a strong national airline, the country cannot develop tourism,” claims Abdourahman Ali Abdillahi, CEO of Air Djibouti.
Founded in 1963 and rebooted in 2015, the airline aims to expand its regional network. In particular, they rely on propeller aircraft to connect the Tajra, Obok and the Musha Islands, with the aim of opening these destinations and promoting access to the country's natural locations.
Additionally, Flynasairline launched a link with Saudi Arabia in 2024, strengthening its strategic axis with the Gulf. The new international airport is also located in the pipeline, marking a fresh stage of the country's opening up.
The private sector plays an important role in this tourism drive. Entrepreneurs like Yacoub Aden Miguil are striving to build digital products, while others such as Houssein Mahamoud Robleh, director of Kamaj Group, lend banks to luxury hotels to attract international customers.
In 2020, he signed a partnership with Accor to modernize the hotel. At the same time, he is investing in the infrastructure of natural sites such as Lake Lake Kubbe and Mascari Island, off the coast of the capital. Robre believes that tourism will help support the country's region development and better redistribute wealth. “Because of the high unemployment rate, we have to create jobs, especially among young people. We are in a country that is still untouched, especially from a road infrastructure perspective, so we need to do a lot.”
Djibouti still needs to overcome several obstacles to establish itself as a competitive destination. High prices form one of them. Currently, staying in a five-star hotel in Djibouti is more expensive than, say, Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Arab Emirates.
“Developing leisure tourism requires cutting costs, lowering air travel prices and accelerating investment in infrastructure,” says Nicholas Froger, director of Djibouti Palace Kempinski.
He also points out the obvious lack of services in certain tourist destinations. “Tourists visiting Lake Asar and Lake Abbe do not have an agency offering showers, refreshment stands and guided excursions.
In the face of these challenges, some people are looking for a more targeted regional strategy. “It's complicated to attract Americans and French people here. We need to sell Djibouti as a long weekend destination to travelers from Doha, Dubai, Addis Ababa and Nairobi,” suggests one expert.
To expand internationally, governments need to strengthen promotions from overseas countries. “Among the challenges identified, international promotion efforts need to be strengthened to increase the visibility of Djibouti,” said Osman Abdi Mohamed, Director of the National Tourism Bureau. “This requires a targeted marketing strategy and proper training to ensure a quality tourist experience.”
The turquoise waters are exceptional marine creatures, including whale sharks that pass through for several months of the year, and have serious assets to become the hub of the main tourists in the Horn of Africa. However, to turn this possibility into a success, countries must overcome their structural challenges, improve accessibility and refine their services to attract international customers.
