In Benin, around 1.25 trillion invested in culture and tourism over 10 years.

Benin has chosen to place culture and tourism at the heart of its strategy for economic development. On the occasion of Vodun Days, held from January 8 to 10 in Ouidah, the government reaffirmed this orientation through statements by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Jean-Michel Abimbola, a guest on France 24.

According to the minister, investments made by the State in the cultural and tourism sectors have reached unprecedented levels. “We have invested the tidy sum of 1,250 billion CFA francs, or a little over 2 billion euros, over the decade that ends,” he said. In addition to these amounts, new projections indicate, “the equivalent of 900 billion CFA francs will be invested again over the next five years.”

For the government, these investments translate into a clear strategic choice. “Public policy in the cultural and tourist sectors is a major axis of our country’s development policy,” the minister said, noting that culture is now “an essential pillar for creating jobs for young people, generating wealth and positively impacting GDP.”

This strategy rests on several segments: religious tourism related to Vodun, memorial tourism around the slave trade, and the creative and cultural industries.

The Vodun Days, an economic showcase

Presented as a structuring event, the festival is seen by authorities as a catalyst for economic spillovers. “It is a major event because it helps to destigmatize Vodun, to say what Vodun is and what it is not,” explained Jean-Michel Abimbola. He also recalled that several structuring projects accompany this dynamic, notably “an international Vodun museum currently under construction in Porto-Novo” and the implementation of a “Vodun convent route.”

In terms of attendance, the minister revised the figures upward. “Last year, we had a little over 500,000 visitors. This year, we expect nearly one million visitors,” he specified.

Continuity despite the security situation

Asked about the impact of the recent coup attempt on this cultural ambition, the minister sought to reassure. “From the first day, things have returned to normal in Benin. The country is open,” he assured, adding that “the government’s priorities remain the same,” even if “greater emphasis is placed on defense and security.”

Regarding the Vodun Days, he confirmed that “the emphasis is on security, as has always been the case,” stating that no major incident has been recorded during previous editions.