Somalia has recorded one of its strongest tourism years in recent memory, drawing an estimated ten thousand visitors in 2024.
The figures, reported by CNN, mark a fifty percent rise from the previous year and signal a striking shift for a country that has spent decades defined abroad by conflict and chronic instability.
The visitors making their way to Mogadishu and other regions are not limited to itinerant business travellers or risk inclined wanderers.
A large share comes from the Somali diaspora, returning after long periods abroad to reconnect with family and assess opportunities in a rapidly evolving economy.
Others are investors sizing up a market that has shown signs of renewal. A small but growing segment are tourists drawn to the country’s long beaches, historic ruins and a hospitality culture that has endured through years of upheaval.
Western governments still advise against most forms of travel to Somalia, but improving security in several urban centres has altered calculations for some travellers.
Expanding domestic flight networks and hotel renovations have also played a role, giving visitors more predictable movement and accommodation options.
Tour operators working in the region say they have noticed a modest but unmistakable shift in perception.
Social media has helped drive interest, with returning Somalis showcasing coastal escapes, local cuisine and the pace of Mogadishu’s recovery. For many viewers abroad, these images run counter to long standing assumptions about the country.
For Somalia, the rise in visitor numbers is more than a statistical uptick. It is viewed as a small endorsement of the government’s attempts to stabilise the country and reshape its international reputation.
Officials hope that if the security environment continues to improve, the momentum will draw more visitors and fresh investment in the years ahead.
