Cape Verde’s historic debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in the Round of 32, but the tournament delivered something that could prove even more valuable than sporting success: global visibility. Millions of fans who discovered the Atlantic island nation during the World Cup are now asking where it is—and whether it’s worth visiting.
That sudden attention presents both an opportunity and a challenge. As interest grows, Cape Verde must determine whether it can convert World Cup exposure into sustainable tourism without placing excessive pressure on its fragile islands and limited infrastructure.
Government seeks to expand U.S. tourism
Cape Verde has long aimed to attract more visitors from the United States. During a 2024 visit to Boston, Prime Minister José Ulisses Correia e Silva called for direct air connections, encouraging more Americans to visit, invest and strengthen ties with the country.
That objective became reality on May 4, 2026, when Cabo Verde Airlines resumed direct flights between Providence, Rhode Island and Praia after an interruption of more than eight years. The route primarily serves New England, home to one of the world’s largest Cape Verdean communities outside the country.
Tourism drives economic growth
Tourism is already the backbone of Cape Verde’s economy.
Hotels welcomed nearly 1.25 million guests in 2025, a record for the archipelago. According to the World Bank, the country’s economy expanded 6.3% in 2025, supported by rising tourist arrivals, increased airline capacity and strong demand from European markets.
The tourism boom also helped reduce unemployment to 6.2%, while Cape Verde posted its first budget surplus since 2007. However, public debt remains high at more than 100% of GDP.
Tourism remains concentrated
Despite the growth, visitors are heavily concentrated on just two islands.
- Sal attracted nearly 60% of all tourists in 2025.
- Boa Vista accounted for almost 25%.
- Santiago received just 8.1%.
- São Vicente welcomed 4.4%.
The World Bank argues that improving domestic air and ferry connections would help spread tourism across more islands while creating stronger links with local agriculture, fisheries and service industries.
The limits of the all-inclusive model
Cape Verde’s tourism sector also relies heavily on all-inclusive resorts.
Approximately 93% of visitors come from Europe, while only 1.1% arrive from the United States. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), around 80% of tourists book all-inclusive holiday packages, with only a handful of international hotel chains dominating the accommodation market.
Because resorts import roughly 80% of their food and beverages, a significant share of tourism spending leaves the country rather than benefiting local businesses.
Sustainability challenges
Rapid tourism growth is placing increasing pressure on Cape Verde’s natural resources.
Freshwater remains scarce, forcing islands such as Sal, Boa Vista and São Vicente to rely heavily on energy-intensive seawater desalination. Waste generation is also rising quickly, particularly on Sal, where per-capita waste production is already the highest in the country.
Although Cape Verde has introduced a sustainable tourism certification recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the IFC estimates that only around 20% of tourism businesses have implemented sustainability or circular economy initiatives.
Looking beyond resort tourism
The IFC believes Cape Verde can diversify its tourism model through higher-value segments such as:
- Yacht tourism, leveraging the country’s strategic location between Europe and the Caribbean.
- Cultural tourism built around music, festivals, cuisine and UNESCO heritage sites.
- Digital nomads, who typically stay longer and spend more within local communities than traditional package tourists.
However, the report concludes that Cape Verde still lacks a coordinated national tourism strategy, comprehensive visitor data, dedicated financing and technical support needed to fully develop these sectors.
For Cape Verde, the World Cup provided unprecedented international exposure. The next challenge is ensuring that increased tourism supports local communities and protects the islands’ natural environment, rather than simply bringing more visitors.