ECOWAS classification standards for tourist accommodation

The eight texts

The texts adopted cover^[1][2][3]:

1. definitions, categories and general classification criteria;
2. standards for hotels, inns and motels;
3. ecolodges;
4. aparthotels and serviced residences;
5. holiday villages;
6. the regional labelling and signage system;
7. the regional implementation and monitoring mechanism;
8. the Supplementary Act.

Accommodation types and categories

The signage reference text sets the number of classification categories for eight types of accommodation^[8]:

We also work with boats and barges offering accommodation. The texts available to us do not document an ECOWAS classification for them, so we do not assign one.

Regional plaque, national commission and digital platform

The regional classification plaque shows the initial of the establishment type, the number of “stars” awarded, the ECOWAS logo, the national flag and the period of validity^[1]. Each member state is to set up a digital classification platform, modelled on the system already used in Côte d’Ivoire^[2][3].

Each type of establishment has its own plaque, with its own design. It must remain visible from a distance, illuminated and in good condition; the body that awards the classification may withdraw it if these conditions are not met^[8]. The plaque is tied to the official classification: only an establishment classified after an official assessment may display it.

In May 2024 in Abuja, the experts adopted a resolution requiring every member state to have a national classification commission, trained by the ECOWAS Commission^[4].

Preparation and the official decision

Our tool prepares you for the assessment: it applies the ECOWAS grids criterion by criterion and shows the gaps against the category you are aiming for. It does not classify any establishment. The official decision rests with the competent authority in each country, and with that authority alone.

The official documents print totals and thresholds that do not always match their own criteria. Our preparation version calculates from the criteria and flags these differences; it is not a corrected official standard.

Timeline

1. 7 April 2023, Lomé. The eight texts adopted by tourism ministers^[1][2].
2. May 2024, Abuja. Resolution on national classification commissions^[4].
3. March 2025, Banjul. Regional training^[5].
4. July 2025, Cotonou. Validation of six draft standards: hotels, motels, inns, ecolodges, aparthotels and holiday villages^[6].
5. Next step. Adoption of the Supplementary Act by the Authority of Heads of State and Government, followed by national transposition.

Transposition status by country

We record a status as “not confirmed” until a national text or official statement establishes it. This site covers the four countries where we work; the English-speaking member states (Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia) are equally bound to transpose the standards, but their status is not tracked here.

Frequently asked questions