The 22nd edition of the Akwaaba African Travel Market will bring together sports and tourism stakeholders from across Africa as tour operators converge in Lagos to develop travel packages for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Scheduled to hold from September 13 to 15 in Lagos, the annual travel and tourism expo will host the second African Tour Operators Summit, providing a platform for operators from East and West Africa to strengthen partnerships ahead of the continental football championship.
The summit is expected to focus on leveraging the tourism opportunities presented by the 2027 AFCON, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Participants will explore collaborations aimed at creating cross-border travel packages and promoting intra-African tourism during the tournament.
Organisers noted that West Africa remains the continent’s football powerhouse, consistently producing the highest number of AFCON qualifiers, while East Africa has established itself as one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations, with Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda driving the region’s tourism growth.
The African Tour Operators Summit is expected to provide a meeting point for operators from both regions to network, establish business relationships and develop tourism products that will enable football fans to experience the tournament while exploring East Africa’s tourism attractions.
As part of the summit, the Africa Travel 100 Awards for African Tour Operators will be held on September 14 to recognise tour operators promoting African destinations to African travellers. The awards are designed to encourage intra-African tourism and celebrate operators contributing to the growth of travel across the continent.
The summit marks the second edition of the African Tour Operators Summit, following its inaugural event in 2018.
Akwaaba African Travel Market is regarded as the largest travel exhibition in West Africa and one of the five biggest tourism expos on the continent. In 2022, the event received an Award of Excellence in Tourism from the Nigerian Government and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
The annual event attracts exhibitors and participants from more than 20 countries within and outside Africa, including The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Africa, Egypt, Seychelles, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
This year’s edition will feature the Africa Food Fair, African Medical Tourism, African Tourism Conference, Africa Travel 100 Awards, business-to-business meetings, destination wedding showcases, African Youth Tourism Bantaba, travel technology exhibitions and CHINET Aviacargo, among other activities.
Over the years, Akwaaba African Travel Market has evolved into a major platform for promoting tourism, aviation, hospitality, and inbound and outbound travel across Africa, while fostering business partnerships among stakeholders in the continent’s travel industry.
