AITEC World Benin Marks World Tourism Day 2026 with AI Training for Tourism Professionals in Cotonou
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COTONOU-
AITEC World- Benin has commemorated World Tourism Day 2026 with a practical training programme on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools for tourism, bringing together members and tourism stakeholders at Benin Royal Hotel, Cotonou, the headquarters of AITEC World in Benin.
The initiative was organised in line with the 2026 World Tourism Day theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” and reflects the growing importance of technology in transforming how tourism destinations, businesses and professionals operate, communicate and reach global markets.
Opening the programme, Amb. Dine Bouraima, President of AITEC World, welcomed participants and emphasised the relevance of the training to the rapidly changing tourism environment.
He noted that tourism professionals can no longer rely solely on the quality of their hotels, destinations or tourism products. In an increasingly digital marketplace, businesses must also be able to communicate effectively, maintain visibility, attract customers and market their products and services through modern digital platforms.
Moving AI from theory to practical tourism applications
Amb. Bouraima explained that the training was deliberately designed to be practical, with the objective of giving participants tools that could be applied immediately in their professional activities.
The programme seeks to enable tourism actors to use digital technologies and AI to save time, create better content, improve communication, market tourism products more effectively and develop their businesses.
This practical approach is particularly significant for tourism enterprises, destination managers, travel professionals, hospitality operators, tour companies and other stakeholders seeking to compete in an increasingly technology-driven global tourism economy.
Artificial intelligence is already creating new possibilities across the tourism value chain, including content creation, customer communication, digital marketing, travel information, itinerary development, data analysis and business productivity. For African tourism businesses, the effective adoption of these tools can provide additional opportunities to showcase destinations and connect with international audiences.
Digital transformation and Africa’s tourism competitiveness
For AITEC World, the initiative goes beyond a single training session. It forms part of the organisation’s broader vision of strengthening the capacity of African tourism professionals and connecting the continent more effectively with international markets.
Amb. Bouraima reiterated AITEC World’s guiding vision:
“Linking Africa to the World and the World to Africa.”
According to him, digital technology and artificial intelligence represent powerful instruments for advancing this vision and strengthening the competitiveness of African tourism.
The Cotonou training therefore provided an opportunity for AITEC World members to examine how emerging technologies can be incorporated into their everyday professional activities while also considering the broader transformation taking place within the global tourism industry.
Building a digitally capable tourism workforce
The World Tourism Day programme also highlights the importance of human capacity development in Africa’s digital transformation. Access to AI tools alone is not sufficient; tourism professionals need the knowledge and confidence to use them responsibly and effectively.
By equipping its members with practical digital and AI skills, AITEC World Benin is contributing to the development of a tourism workforce capable of responding to changing consumer behaviour, new marketing channels and the demands of an increasingly connected global tourism market.
The programme also created a platform for participants to exchange ideas, discover new possibilities and explore practical applications of AI within their respective businesses and professional activities.
AITEC World’s continuing commitment
The initiative in Cotonou demonstrates AITEC World’s commitment to making digital innovation and emerging technologies accessible to tourism professionals across Africa.
As destinations compete for visitors, investment and international visibility, the ability to tell Africa’s tourism story through modern digital channels will remain increasingly important. AI can support that process by helping tourism businesses become more productive, creative and responsive, while human expertise, authenticity and responsible tourism practices remain central to the visitor experience.
The World Tourism Day 2026 programme in Benin thus served not only as a celebration of tourism but also as a call for tourism professionals to embrace the tools shaping the industry’s future.
In concluding his opening remarks, Amb. Dine Bouraima expressed appreciation to the participants and everyone who contributed to the organisation of the programme, wishing all participants an engaging training filled with “discoveries, exchanges and, above all, concrete applications.”
The Cotonou initiative reinforces a central message for Africa’s tourism sector: the digital transformation of tourism is no longer a distant prospect—it is an opportunity that tourism professionals can begin to harness today.
