US EditionSun, Sea, Sand ... Somalia? Tourism Trickles in Despite Insecurity
Somalia's tourism employs around 30,000 people and visitor numbers may double to 20,000 in 2025 despite ongoing security risks and recent militant attacks.
- Last year, Tourism Minister Daud Aweis Jama said about 10,000 people visited Somalia, the Somali government promotes tourism as an economic priority employing 30,000, and attacks reduced 86% since 2023.
- Al-Shabaab's territorial gains earlier this year raised concerns Mogadishu could be threatened, and militants carried out a major prison assault last month, underscoring persistent security risks.
- Private tour operators like Visit Mogadishu Tours provide armed vehicle escorts and packaged services, with some foreign tourists escorted by an assigned armed soldier despite card blocks and high costs.
- Physical reminders of past conflicts remain in Mogadishu, and observers note Somalia's reputation complicates recovery despite rising arrivals, while Daud Aweis Jama said it's to "change the image of Somalia."
- The e-visa system was hacked, and experienced high-risk travellers continue to visit despite security improvements in many parts, while some areas remain no-go.
10 Articles
10 Articles
Malay Mail
What draws travellers to Mogadishu despite Al-Shabaab threats and Western advisories?
MOGADISHU, Nov 21 — Children run in turquoise water, hawkers tout wares on white sands, and families laugh as tourists disembark from small boats—but it’s not some tropical island, it’s Somalia’s capital Mogadishu.“I didn’t really tell my family where I was going,” said Sheryl, from the United States, after walking along Lido Beach in the city.“But... from the moment we got off the aeroplane, I’ve been feeling totally comfortable,” she told AFP.…
Times of India
eNCASun, sea, sand... In Somalia? Tourism trickles in despite insecurity
Children run in turquoise water, hawkers tout wares on white sands, and families laugh as tourists disembark from small boats -- but it's not some tropical island, it's Somalia's capital Mogadishu. They explored Somalia's capital -- including the beach, Peace Gardens memorial park, and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier -- with Visit Mogadishu Tours, one of its oldest travel agencies having started business with a solitary Chinese tourist in 2012.
On Thursday, November 20, 2025, the Somali capital presented a striking duality: its idyllic beaches coexisted with chronic instability. Authorities were striving to use tourism as a tool to transform the nation's image, despite the legacy of the civil war and the constant threat from al-Shabaab militants.
Destroyed by violence, the country is far from being seen, from abroad, as a travel destination.
Somalia Sees Tourism Surge—Despite Safety Risks
Somalia experienced a surprising tourism boom last year with around 10,000 travelers visiting in 2024, up 50% from the previous year. The increase comes despite the security challenges in the country such as kidnapping, terrorism, and piracy—as well as minimal medical infrastructure. Adventure tour operator James Willcox of Untamed Borders noted that his company took 13 groups to Mogadishu in 2024, compared to just two in 2023, highlighting grow…
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