Africa’s hospitality sector is entering a new growth phase, with hotel construction accelerating across the continent as tourism, business travel, and urban development continue to expand.
According to the Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa 2026 report by W Hospitality Group, the continent’s top hotel development markets account for 504 hotel projects with a combined pipeline of 97,878 rooms. Of this total, 54,742 rooms, representing about 56% of the pipeline, are already under construction.
The renewed construction momentum is underpinned by improving travel demand in Africa’s tourism economy.
Africa recorded an 8% increase in international tourist arrivals in 2025 compared with 2024, the strongest growth rate globally, according to UN Tourism.
The agency’s World Tourism Barometer shows the continent welcomed about 81 million international tourists in 2025.
Investors and global hotel brands are increasingly betting on Africa, from luxury resorts to business hotels.
Nairametrics reported on some of West Africa’s largest hotels, which include major hospitality landmarks like Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Rock City Hotel in Ghana, and Eko Hotels & Suites, which rank among the region’s biggest properties in terms of total room inventory.
Together, these top ten countries account for about 79% of all hotel rooms currently planned or being built in Africa, showing that most hotel investment on the continent is happening in a few fast-growing destinations.
Here are the top 10 African countries leading hotel construction projects by number of pipeline rooms.
Tunisia ranks among Africa’s active hotel development markets with 15 hotel projects totaling 4,189 pipeline rooms. The country maintains a relatively strong pace of construction, with 2,673 rooms already onsite.
Most hotel developments are concentrated in Tunis, Hammamet, Sousse, and the island of Djerba, which serve as Tunisia’s primary tourism gateways. These destinations combine beach resorts and cultural attractions that draw both leisure travelers and international events.
According to figures released by Tunisia’s tourism authorities, the country surpassed 11 million tourists as of December 2025, marking one of the strongest tourism performances in its history.
The biggest hotel chains in Tunisia include local giants like El Mouradi Hotels and Magic Hotels & Resorts, along with international brands such as Iberostar, Radisson Hotel Group, and Vincci Hoteles.
Several factors continue to drive visitor demand, such as Tunisia’s Mediterranean coastline, historic sites such as Carthage, desert tourism in the Sahara, and cultural heritage cities.
