Sao Tome, April 13, 2026 (Lusa) – Sao Tome and Principe broke its tourist record again in 2025, with 42,000 visitors, while the aim is to reach 50,000 visitors by 2030, an official source told Lusa on Monday.
"It grew slightly [...]. We need to understand the reason for this, but we are still satisfied. It would be worse if it did not grow. It is a growth of around 1.2%, but it shows we have work to do," commented the Director-General for Tourism and Hotels.
Shellita Viegas said that Portugal remains the leading market for tourist arrivals, describing it as a "consolidated market". France, Angola, Germany, and the United Kingdom follow as the next main sources of visitors.
August and December remain the peak months for tourism. However, last year saw a significant increase in January. "It is true that we are not a mass tourism destination, and we do not want too many people in São Tomé and Príncipe because the country's infrastructure is not prepared for it. Therefore, we have a goal of 50,000 [...] by 2030," she said.
Tourism in São Tomé and Príncipe has grown consistently since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. The country recorded 35,817 visitors in 2023 and nearly 41,000 in 2024.
The institution is implementing several initiatives to reach its target, Viegas said. These include increased participation in international tourism fairs, the redevelopment of national tourist sites, and partnerships with digital influencers to promote the archipelago's potential.
The Directorate-General for Tourism proposed changes to the tourism tax collection method and rates to the Government, implementing the new system in March.
The tax is now collected directly from tourists at an airport counter, replacing the previous system where tourist accommodation providers handled the collection. The official said that establishments did not always forward those funds to the tourism fund managed by the Directorate.
The rate also changed from €2.1 per day to a single fee of €25 for those visiting São Tomé, with an additional €10 for those travelling to Príncipe Island. These funds will finance the tourism fund to support sector activities.
"We had positive feedback from the tourists who paid the tax; they paid with satisfaction and said they were glad we did this. We found that very encouraging, and it gives us strength," she said.
She said that the country approved the tourism satellite account last year, which showed that tourism contributes 11% to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, the institution believes the actual contribution is higher, given the ongoing difficulties in compiling sector data across various dimensions, including employment.
JYAF/RYOL // AYLS
Lusa
