By Zakaria Soohoyde - Reporter
MOGADISHU, 29 September 2026 — Somalia is seeking to make tourism one of the sectors to attract international attention, as Mogadishu hosted the Somalia Tourism Exhibition on Tuesday showcasing tourism opportunities across the country.
The exhibition, held on the outskirts of Mogadishu, brought together government officials, business leaders, diplomats and other stakeholders working in the tourism sector.
Around 1,500 people were expected to attend the event, including ministers, lawmakers and ambassadors from Sudan, Algeria, Libya and Saudi Arabia.
Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala said the exhibition was organized to showcase the tourism opportunities available in Somalia and bring together businesses operating in the sector.
"The purpose of organizing this exhibition is to showcase the tourism opportunities available in the country. It brings together businesses working in the tourism sector and also highlights the peace prevailing in the city," the minister said.
For years, Somalia's tourism sector has been closely associated with the country's broader security situation. The government is now seeking to highlight other aspects of Somalia, including its natural landscapes, beaches, cultural heritage and historical sites.
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The exhibition also featured Somalia's first institute dedicated to tourism studies, established to provide the public with knowledge and skills related to the tourism sector.
The institute is part of efforts to develop a skilled Somali workforce in tourism, with expectations that growth in the sector could create new employment and business opportunities.
The exhibition aims to highlight Somalia's tourism potential and explore ways to capitalize on it, as the government and private sector seek to expand the tourism market beyond domestic visitors.
According to the Ministry of Information, more than 10,000 tourists visited Somalia last year, a figure the government views as an indication of the opportunities emerging in the country's tourism sector.
The ministry said it wants to capitalize on Somalia's natural resources, history and cultural heritage as the country seeks to position itself among the leading tourism destinations in East Africa.
If these efforts are successfully implemented, tourism could become a source of revenue and employment for Somalia, while also providing an opportunity to present a broader picture of the country to the international community.