In 2025, the African hotel sector will experience remarkable growth, with a 13.3% increase in development projects compared to the previous year. This expansion is mainly driven by North Africa, which shows a 23% increase, compared to 6% for Sub-Saharan Africa.

African Country Rankings

Here are the ten African countries with the largest hotel investments in 2025, in terms of projects and rooms under development:

• Egypt: 143 projects – 33,926 rooms
• Morocco: 58 projects – 8,579 rooms
• Nigeria: 50 projects – 7,320 rooms
• Ethiopia: 31 projects – 5,648 rooms
• Cape Verde: 16 projects – 5,565 rooms
• Kenya: 31 projects – 4,344 rooms
• Tunisia: 18 projects – 4,336 rooms
• South Africa: 22 projects – 4,076 rooms
• Tanzania: Unspecified number of projects – 3,432 rooms
• Ghana: 19 projects – 3,125 rooms

These ten countries account for nearly 73% of hotel projects and 77% of rooms under development across the continent.

Key factors driving this growth

Egypt: The undisputed leader, Egypt benefits from a diversified tourism offering, a robust economy, proximity to European and Middle Eastern markets, and significant air traffic. These assets are massively attracting hotel investment.

Morocco: Morocco is positioned as the second-largest African market for high-end hotel development, with 8,600 luxury rooms under construction. This momentum is supported by an ambitious national strategy and a favorable investment environment.

Nigeria: Despite infrastructure challenges, Nigeria is attracting significant investment, particularly in cities like Lagos and Abuja, due to its large domestic market and economic potential.

Cape Verde: With 5,565 rooms under development, Cape Verde is surprisingly dynamic, particularly on the island of Boa Vista, which is attracting large-scale hotel complex projects.

Algeria: Ranking ninth, Algeria has 13 projects under development, representing 2,603 rooms. The country is focusing on developing Saharan tourism and modernizing its infrastructure to strengthen its appeal.

Perspectives

The growth of the African hotel sector reflects a major shift in the continent’s tourism infrastructure. The arrival of new players and the expansion of existing chains demonstrate the resilience and potential of the African market. The development of air connections, the improvement of road infrastructure, and the digitization of services are contributing to strengthening the continent’s attractiveness for hotel investors.