The World Cup Made Cabo Verde Famous, But Is It Ready For The Attention?

Cabo Verde, a small island nation in the Atlantic, has experienced an unexpected surge in global recognition following its participation in the FIFA World Cup. Although the team exited in the round of 32, the tournament spotlight introduced millions worldwide to the archipelago, sparking newfound curiosity about this relatively obscure destination.

This rising profile has translated into tangible economic benefits, with Cabo Verde’s tourism industry reaching record numbers. In 2025, hotels across the islands hosted nearly 1.25 million guests, contributing to an economic growth rate of 6.3% that year. This upswing is credited to increased flight capacity, unprecedented tourist arrivals from Europe, and the resumption of direct air links, notably between Providence, Rhode Island, and Praia, the capital of Cabo Verde—a route reopened in 2026 after an eight-year suspension. The choice of Providence reflects the strong Cape Verdean diaspora in New England.

Despite these gains, the tourism boom remains heavily concentrated. The islands of Sal and Boa Vista attracted the vast majority of visitors in 2025, accounting for roughly 85% of tourist stays combined. Other islands, including Santiago and São Vicente, saw far fewer guests, underscoring an uneven distribution of tourism benefits. Experts from the World Bank suggest that improving inter-island connectivity could help diversify tourism across the archipelago and bolster local supply chains in fisheries, agriculture, and services. However, current limitations include costly and erratic domestic flights alongside unreliable ferry services hindered by aging vessels.

Another notable aspect of Cabo Verde’s tourism sector is its dependence on European travelers, who comprised 93% of arrivals in 2025. In contrast, visitors from the United States made up just over 1%, highlighting an untapped market despite government efforts to attract more Afro-American tourists and investors.

The prevailing model of tourism is dominated by all-inclusive packages managed by a handful of global resort chains, which account for approximately 90% of accommodations. While these resorts provide employment and generate tax revenues, they also import an estimated 80% of their food and beverage supplies. Consequently, a significant portion of tourist spending exits the local economy. Moreover, the all-inclusive format tends to limit travelers’ expenditures outside resort premises, reducing opportunities for broader community benefit.

Rising living costs have outpaced the modest wages offered by tourism employment, introducing socioeconomic challenges. Environmental sustainability presents another critical constraint. The islands rely heavily on seawater desalination to meet water demands, particularly on Sal, Boa Vista, and São Vicente, due to limited freshwater resources. This process increases energy consumption, compounding the strain on energy infrastructure. Additionally, Sal generates more waste per capita than other islands, with projections indicating a doubling of waste by 2035, raising concerns about environmental degradation.

Although Cabo Verde has implemented a sustainable tourism certification aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, adoption remains limited. Only about 20% of tourism businesses have integrated sustainability or circular economy practices, and such initiatives are generally small-scale and nascent.

To reduce dependency on all-inclusive tourism and diversify the sector, several alternative models are under consideration. Yacht tourism presents promising potential given Cabo Verde’s strategic location along transatlantic sailing routes, with estimates of daily spending by yacht tourists far exceeding that of typical visitors. Cultural and creative tourism focusing on the nation’s rich musical traditions, festivals, and UNESCO-listed heritage sites like Cidade Velha also offer avenues for growth. However, currently only a minuscule fraction of tourist expenditures—around 1%—is directed toward cultural events, and local artisan markets face competition from imported goods.

Another emerging segment is digital nomads, who tend to stay longer, spend more on local services, and utilize community infrastructure such as coworking spaces. The government has noted that digital nomads’ daily expenditures surpass those of average tourists, indicating a valuable opportunity for economic diversification.

Nevertheless, the absence of a coherent national tourism strategy, insufficient visitor data, limited access to specialized financing, and a shortage of business and technical training pose hurdles to fully realizing these potentials. Cabo Verde’s future success in tourism will likely depend on addressing these structural challenges, enhancing sustainability efforts, and fostering a more equitable distribution of tourism benefits across its islands.