Title:
Development of Domestic Tourism in Benin: Strengths and Prospects

Authors:
Cotèho Blanche Nadine AKOGBETO, Benin

Abstract:

Tourism is a powerful driver of a country's socioeconomic development. This development hinges on the strong performance of domestic tourism. Benin possesses numerous natural and cultural resources conducive to its tourism development. From North to South, from East to West, it offers ample opportunities to captivate its residents and foreign visitors alike. This research, entitled "Development of Domestic Tourism in Benin: Strengths and Prospects," aims to analyze the challenges associated with the development of domestic tourism in Benin. The methodological approach relied on documentary research, interviews, observation, and questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed through the lens of the development approach of P. Aydalot (1985) and B. Pecqueur (2001), combined with P. Nora's (1984) theory of heritage valuation and the economic theory of tourism inspired by the work of JM Keynes (1936). The results of our investigations show that Benin possesses significant and attractive potential in terms of resources representing its tourism heritage (natural, tangible, and intangible). This potential is distributed throughout the national territory in terms of the tourism offerings available to tourists. These include Pendjari National Park, W National Park, the Bouche du Roy (King's Mouth), the Atypical Hills, the Lakeside City of Ganvié, the Gate of No Return, the Royal Palaces, several museums, the Notre Dame Arigbo Cave, and more. However, the current state of these sites reveals that 80% are undeveloped and 20% are in poor condition. It is noted that 95% of the sites have tourist guides. Furthermore, 20% of those surveyed expressed an interest in domestic tourism, while 80% did not.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijaemr.2026.11223