Tourism accounts for 11% of Sao Tome’s GDP – UN study – Plataforma Media

Oct 20, 2025 - 23:00
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Tourism accounts for 11% of Sao Tome’s GDP – UN study – Plataforma Media

 

Report on São Tomé and Príncipe’s Tourism Sector and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

An initial analytical report on the Tourism Satellite Account for São Tomé and Príncipe indicates a significant contribution from the tourism sector to the national economy. This development, part of a project initiated in 2024, aligns with several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The project aims to provide a strategic tool for evidence-based policymaking to position tourism as a primary driver for economic diversification and sustainable development.

Economic Contribution and Alignment with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The first estimates produced by national experts under the Tourism Satellite Account Development Project quantify the sector’s substantial economic impact. These findings are crucial for tracking progress towards SDG 8, which promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

  • Contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP): An estimated 11%.
  • Contribution to Gross Value Added (GVA): An estimated 10%.
  • Employment Impact: The sector provided employment for approximately 14% of the population last year.
  • Tourist Arrivals: The nation achieved a record 41,000 tourist arrivals in the previous year.

The development of the Tourism Satellite Account provides a solid analytical basis to accurately capture the economic value of tourism, thereby guiding public and private investment towards inclusive and sustainable growth in line with SDG 8 targets.

Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The project’s success is a testament to effective collaboration, a core principle of SDG 17. The initiative is being advanced through a close partnership between several key entities.

  • United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
  • National institutions of São Tomé and Príncipe
  • United Nations partners

A forthcoming seminar will further strengthen these partnerships by fostering political and institutional ownership of the satellite account. The meeting is designed as a multi-stakeholder dialogue, bringing together diverse groups to ensure a cohesive approach to national development priorities.

  1. Government authorities
  2. Development partners
  3. Academics
  4. Private sector representatives
  5. Civil society organizations

National Strategy and Commitment to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The government of São Tomé and Príncipe has demonstrated a clear commitment to sustainable development through its strategic planning. The focus on sustainable tourism directly supports the objectives of SDG 12, which aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

This commitment is formally articulated in the National Sustainable Development Strategy 2026-2040, which identifies sustainable tourism as a cornerstone of the nation’s future. This strategy is set to be a central feature at the upcoming Investment Forum in Brussels, highlighting the nation’s dedication to attracting investment that aligns with global sustainability standards.

Project Milestones and Forward Outlook

The Tourism Satellite Account Development Project has achieved several critical milestones since its inception, moving the nation closer to a data-driven approach for sustainable tourism management.

  1. Project Launch: The project was initiated in 2024.
  2. Capacity Building: National experts were enabled to produce the country’s first Tourism Satellite Accounts.
  3. Initial Analysis: The first estimates of tourism’s contribution to GDP were presented.
  4. Upcoming Validation: A seminar will be held to serve as a crucial milestone for validating the findings and promoting political dialogue.

The establishment of the Tourism Satellite Account represents a foundational step for São Tomé and Príncipe. It provides the analytical framework necessary to ensure that the tourism sector’s growth is managed sustainably, contributing effectively to the nation’s economic diversification and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

  1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

    The article highlights issues directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on economic growth, sustainable practices, and partnerships.

    • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

      This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The text centers on measuring the economic contribution of tourism to São Tomé and Príncipe’s national wealth. It explicitly mentions tourism’s contribution to “11% of GDP” and providing “employment for approximately 14% of the population.” The project’s goal to position tourism as a “key lever for economic diversification and sustainable development” directly aligns with the objectives of SDG 8.

    • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

      The article’s emphasis on “sustainable tourism” connects it to SDG 12. The development of the “Tourism Satellite Account” is a tool to monitor the impacts of tourism, which is a key aspect of ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns within the sector. The country’s “National Sustainable Development Strategy 2026-2040, based on sustainable tourism,” further reinforces this link.

    • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

      The entire initiative described is a model of partnership. The article details a “close collaboration between the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, national institutions and UN partners.” Furthermore, the planned seminar will bring together “government authorities, development partners, academics, the private sector and civil society,” which embodies the multi-stakeholder approach central to SDG 17.

  2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

    The article’s content points to several specific targets under the identified SDGs.

    • Under SDG 8:

      • Target 8.9: “By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.” The article directly addresses this by discussing the country’s focus on “sustainable tourism” as a national strategy, its role in job creation (“employment for approximately 14% of the population”), and the implementation of a project to measure its economic value accurately.
    • Under SDG 12:

      • Target 12.b: “Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism…” The core subject of the article, the “Tourism Satellite Account Development Project,” is precisely such a tool. Its purpose is to “accurately measure the real contribution of tourism to national wealth,” which is a foundational step in monitoring its impacts for sustainable development.
    • Under SDG 17:

      • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The seminar described in the article, which gathers “government authorities, development partners, academics, the private sector and civil society,” is a direct example of promoting such multi-stakeholder partnerships.
      • Target 17.19: “By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product…” The creation of a “Tourism Satellite Account” is an initiative to develop a measurement of progress (the economic value of tourism) that complements the standard GDP calculation, providing a more nuanced view of the economy.
  3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

    Yes, the article mentions and implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress.

    • Indicators for SDG 8:

      • Indicator 8.9.1: “Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP and in growth rate.” The article provides a direct measurement for this indicator, stating that initial estimates point to tourism’s contribution as “11% of GDP.”
      • A national indicator for job creation is also provided: tourism provides “employment for approximately 14% of the population.”
    • Indicators for SDG 12:

      • Indicator 12.b.1: “Number of sustainable tourism strategies or policies and implemented action plans with agreed monitoring and evaluation tools.” The article implies progress on this indicator by mentioning two key elements:
        1. The existence of the “National Sustainable Development Strategy 2026-2040, based on sustainable tourism.”
        2. The development of the “Tourism Satellite Account” as a monitoring and evaluation tool.
    • Indicators for SDG 17:

      • The development and implementation of the “Tourism Satellite Account” itself serves as an indicator of progress towards Target 17.19, as it represents a new measurement of progress on sustainable development that complements GDP.
      • The successful collaboration between UNECA, national institutions, UN partners, the private sector, and civil society on this project is a qualitative indicator of effective partnerships (Target 17.17).
  4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

    SDGs Targets Indicators Identified in the Article
    SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth Target 8.9: Promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs.
    • Tourism’s contribution to the national economy: 11% of GDP.
    • Employment in the tourism sector: 14% of the population.
    SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production Target 12.b: Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism.
    • Development of the “Tourism Satellite Account” as a strategic monitoring tool.
    • Existence of the “National Sustainable Development Strategy 2026-2040, based on sustainable tourism.”
    SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

    Target 17.19: Develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement GDP.

    • Collaboration between UNECA, national institutions, UN partners, government, private sector, and civil society.
    • Creation of the “Tourism Satellite Account” as a measurement of progress that complements GDP.

Source: plataformamedia.com

 

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