In recent years, travelers to Mali come mostly to see the three World Heritage sites, Timbuktu, Djenne and Bandiagara. However, there exist numerous other tourism resources relating to the diverse cultures of the empires and kingdoms that have flourished over the centuries. National projects currently being pursued in Mali seek to open up and develop tourism resources, so as to allow new as well as existing forms of tourism. In terms of tourism development, which heads the Malian government's list of priorities, ecotourism combined with conventional tourism, and a policy of utilizing the festivals held in various regions as tourism resources, are projected to contribute to an increase in visitor numbers.

Steps are being taken in various parts of Mali to set up a pleasant environment geared towards tourism. In addition to several hundred hotels and tourism operators, there have been increases in the number of car rental companies, hospitals accepting foreigners, insurance organizations, and financial institutions handling foreign exchange. Airports, roads and railways linking these areas are also under expansion. Active steps are now being taken in the wake of economic liberalization and the privatization of various government bodies, to improve facilities, train staff, and support and manage tourism resources by means of tourism associations and other organizations.