LAGOS, Nigeria– Stakeholders across Africa’s tourism sector have called for urgent reforms to visa policies, border regulations, and regional aviation systems, emphasizing that stronger collaboration and innovation are essential to unlocking the continent’s tourism potential.
These recommendations emerged from the inaugural African Travel Commission (ATC) Summit and Exhibition, held February 11–12, 2026, at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria. The event was convened under the theme, “Accelerating Africa’s Tourism Growth Through Innovation, Partnerships and Sustainable Investments.”
The gathering marked the first major continental engagement of the revived African Travel Commission since its registration as a non-profit organization in Ghana in 2021. Originally founded in 1965 by chief executives of National Tourism Organisations (NTOs), the ATC has historically served as a unified voice for Africa in global tourism advocacy.
Participants reflected on the organization’s legacy, including its historic contributions to the establishment of the World Tourism Organisation—now known as UN Tourism—and the initiation of World Tourism Day, celebrated annually on September 27.
Despite Africa’s vast cultural heritage, diverse ecosystems, and thriving creative industries, delegates acknowledged that tourism remains underutilized across much of the continent. According to discussions during the summit, global tourism reached record levels in 2025, with Africa contributing approximately USD 225 billion to GDP and supporting nearly 30 million jobs. However, West Africa’s share of tourism-driven GDP remains comparatively low, highlighting the need for targeted policy and structural reforms.
Among the major challenges identified were limited intra-African air connectivity, restrictive visa regimes, weak regional integration frameworks, and insufficient collaboration between governments and private-sector stakeholders.
The summit featured six technical papers presented by leading experts, alongside four high-level panel discussions involving academics, policymakers, and industry leaders. Key conversations focused on innovation, sustainable investment strategies, and the role of tourism as a catalyst for economic growth and regional integration.
Delegates also agreed that the African Travel Commission should take a leadership role in continental tourism research by establishing a comprehensive data and statistics platform. Training initiatives and capacity-building programs for tourism professionals were highlighted as critical priorities for strengthening the sector’s competitiveness.
At the conclusion of the two-day event, participants adopted several resolutions aimed at accelerating Africa’s tourism growth. African governments, regional economic communities, and the African Union were urged to harmonize visa policies, reduce or eliminate visa fees for African travelers, and promote freer movement across borders. Rwanda, Kenya, and Ghana were specifically commended for removing visa restrictions for African citizens.
The summit further recommended the establishment of a Nigerian national carrier that could serve as a strategic hub airline for West Africa. Delegates stressed the need for increased investment in aviation infrastructure and expanded intra-African air routes to enhance connectivity and support tourism growth.
Public-private collaboration emerged as another central theme, with stakeholders encouraging governments and industry leaders to jointly shape tourism policies, support innovation, and advance digital transformation initiatives. The African Travel Commission was mandated to spearhead research on tourism trends, advocate for harmonized policies, and develop shared marketing platforms positioning Africa as a single global destination.
Participants reaffirmed that tourism must be treated as a strategic driver of economic integration. Regional blocs, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), were urged to mainstream tourism into broader development frameworks.
Nigeria was confirmed as the host of the 2027 edition of the Summit and Exhibition, with dates to be announced by the African Travel Commission in due course.
In its closing statement, the summit underscored its commitment to strengthening the ATC as a leading continental platform for tourism research, marketing, and advocacy. Delegates called on African governments, development partners, airlines, investors, and tourism stakeholders to support the implementation of the adopted resolutions in pursuit of sustainable tourism development across Africa.
Leave a Comment