Cape Verde Ranks 6th in Africa for Hotel Development
Cape Verde has solidified its position as a major tourism hub in Africa, ranking sixth on the continent for hotel room development, according to the latest data from international consultancy W Hospitality.
The 2026 “Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa” report reveals that the archipelago currently has 4,328 rooms under development across 17 hotels and resorts. While this total represents a 22.2% decrease from the 5,565 rooms planned in 2025, the country continues to outperform traditional tourism heavyweights such as Tunisia, South Africa, and Ghana.
Regional Context and Competition
Egypt remains the dominant force in African hospitality development, claiming the top spot with nearly 46,000 rooms across 185 hotels. Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia round out the top five, with Cape Verde following closely behind.
Interestingly, Cape Verde stands out for its unique development cycle. While the average construction rate among Africa’s top 10 markets is 53%, only 8.6% of Cape Verde’s projects are currently under active construction. This discrepancy indicates a surge in new planning phases and new market entries rather than a slowdown in interest.
Shifting Strategies and Large-Scale Resorts
The report attributes the year-over-year decrease in room numbers to a strategic reorganization of the local market. Several massive resort projects have been canceled, while others have successfully opened their doors. Furthermore, new contracts signed over the past year—eight in total—tend to favor smaller, more specialized units compared to the mega-resorts of the past.
Despite this shift toward smaller contracts, Cape Verde’s average project size remains 255 rooms per unit, significantly higher than the continental average of 183. This high average reflects the country’s continued reliance on large-scale beach resorts tailored to European holidaymakers.
Key Players and Outlook
The reporting highlights the entry of Oasis Atlântico Hotels & Resorts as a significant contributor to the country’s development data. The scale of investment in the islands is underscored by the fact that one of the 10 largest hotel projects currently under construction in all of Africa is located in Cape Verde, alongside seven in Egypt and two in Kenya.
Industry analysts suggest that while the pipeline has slimmed down, the quality and diversity of the new agreements point toward a maturing market that is refining its tourism offering to meet evolving global demand.
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