São Tomé, 18 February 2026 (ECA) – The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Subregional Office for Central Africa, in close partnership with the Government of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is proud to announce a decisive new phase in the development of Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA).
This strategic extension aims to cement national technical capacities for high-fidelity tourism data production. The centerpiece of this phase is the launch of a comprehensive national tourism survey designed to refine and enhance the landmark results achieved in 2025.
The journey begins with a Technical Capacity-Building Workshop on Tourism Survey Methodological Design, taking place from February 23 to 26, 2026, at the Hotel Pestana in São Tomé.
ECA experts will work side-by-side with specialists from the Ministry of Tourism, the National Institute of Statistics (INE), public administrations, the private sector, and civil society. Together, they will co-design tailored methodologies and data collection tools. True to its mission, the ECA will utilize its signature "learning by doing" pedagogical approach, ensuring an immediate and sustainable transfer of expertise to national counterparts.
The roadmap launched in 2024 has already yielded historic results. The inaugural TSA report established tourism as a vital pillar of the Santomean economy, contributing 11% to the GDP and accounting for 10% of gross value added.
However, to unlock the sector's full potential for inclusive growth, the country must overcome structural bottlenecks: insufficient data availability and limited national capacity for data processing and analysis. Currently, while six out of the ten TSA tables have been completed, the final four, essential for measuring the impact on employment and investment, require more granular and accessible indicators.
ECA’s technical support will now cover the full survey lifecycle: from methodological design to final data analysis and the subsequent updating of the TSA. This initiative goes beyond simple accounting; it aims to provide São Tomé and Príncipe with a powerful strategic steering instrument to attract foreign investment and align public policies with a successful economic diversification agenda.
Media Contact
Zacharie Roger MBARGA – Communications Officer
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
637, Rue 3.069, Quartier du Lac, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Tel: (+237) 222504348
Email: zacharie.mbargayene@un.org
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
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Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
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E-mail: eca-info@un.org