Benin enlists Chinese firms to transform slave port into tourism hub

In the coastal town of Ouidah, Benin, Chinese state-owned firms are building La Marina, a waterfront complex on the grounds of a former slave port where nearly 2 million enslaved Africans were forced onto ships during the transatlantic slave trade. The Beninese government aims to connect the modern development directly to the historic Slave Route—a 2km path from the auction plaza to the beach—and the Gate of No Return memorial arch. The project is managed by Benin’s National Agency for Heritage Promotion and Tourism Development. Construction was initiated under former president Patrice Talon and is being carried forward by newly sworn-in President Romuald Wadagni, who served as finance minister when the contract was awarded. The development is part of a broader infrastructure agenda to boost tourism and preserve the memory of the slave trade, transforming a site of profound historical trauma into a driver of economic growth and international visitation.

La Marina is designed to offer seaside amenities—hotels, restaurants, and promenades—while integrating the existing memorial sites and the Slave Route into a cohesive tourist experience. By leveraging Chinese construction expertise and funding, Benin hopes to attract global visitors interested in African diaspora history. The project raises complex questions about commemorative tourism, economic development, and the ethics of building leisure infrastructure on a site of immense suffering. However, the government sees it as a means to educate visitors and generate revenue for heritage preservation. As the complex takes shape, Ouidah is positioned to become a key destination for both historical reflection and coastal recreation, blending memory with modernization.