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Cabo Verde: Towards a Greener, More Sustainable Tourism Sector

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Country: Cabo Verde

Duration: 2021-2022

Themes: Strengthening the Business Enabling Environment, Expanding Access to Competitive Contestable Markets

Cross Cutting Themes: Gender, Climate

Anticipated Impact Areas: Quality Jobs, Private Investment


The Challenge

Cabo Verde’s robust economic growth was riding on the back of its thriving tourism sector prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The international travel restrictions and domestic lockdown measures enforced to contain the spread of the pandemic in early 2020 provoked an unprecedented economic contraction in the country. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Cabo Verde’s tourism sector was further exacerbated by challenges that include gaps within environmental management and protection, lack of diversification of tourism products, and the need to increase the penetration of local goods and services into the supply chain of resorts.

The Mission

A C-JET funded grant, being implemented by the World Bank, is backing Cabo Verde’s recently adopted blue economy strategy by informing authorities on including blue economy policies and tourism sustainability best practices to frameworks. The grant is also supporting investment promotion and diversification of tourism products through research on high potential segments, and the development of an integrated supplier development program to increase backward linkages with existing tourism operators. These activities and more aim to help strengthen Cabo Verde’s policy actions, increase the competitiveness of its tourism sector, and enable economic recovery that is sustainable and environmentally friendly.