The organisers of the Akwaaba African Travel Market announced plans to use the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to increase intra-African tourism during the 22nd edition of the event scheduled from September 13 to 15, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Focus on East-West African Tour Operator Partnerships and AFCON 2027 Packages
The second African Tour Operators Summit will take place during the Akwaaba event, concentrating on strengthening partnerships between East and West African tour operators. The goal is to create specialised travel packages and tailored tourism experiences linked to AFCON 2027.
Regional Collaboration Enabled by Joint AFCON 2027 Hosts
AFCON 2027 will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, providing opportunities for collaboration between tour operators across these
East African nations and their West African counterparts to promote cross-regional tourism.
B2B Meetings and Cross-Border Travel Itineraries
Tour operators will conduct business-to-business meetings designed to develop strategic partnerships and cross-border travel itineraries. These initiatives aim to allow African travellers to combine football events with cultural activities, leisure, and adventure during the continental championship.
The Africa Travel 100 Awards will be held on September 14, 2026, during the Akwaaba Market. These awards recognise tour operators excelling in promoting African destinations to African travellers under the theme “Africans for Africa.”
The African Tour Operators Summit returned to the Akwaaba Market after its inaugural edition in 2018. The
broader Akwaaba event includes several activities such as the Africa Food Fair, African Medical Tourism Forum, African Tourism Conference, Destination Wedding showcase, African Youth Tourism Bantaba, Travel Technology sessions, CHINET Aviacargo meetings, exhibitions, and networking opportunities involving more than 20 countries.
Akwaaba, regarded as West Africa’s largest travel and tourism exhibition, received an Award of Excellence in Tourism in 2022 from the Nigerian Government and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for its significant contribution to African tourism development.
