The 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market, held from September 13 to 15, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria, will harness the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 tournament to accelerate intra-African tourism. Organisers have unveiled plans to integrate the continent’s largest football event with tourism initiatives, focusing on an expanded collaboration between East and West African travel operators.
African Tour Operators Summit and Awards
The second African Tour Operators Summit will take place during the Akwaaba trade expo, emphasising business-to-business meetings and partnerships between tour operators from different African regions. The summit aims to craft specialised travel packages centred on AFCON 2027, jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and
Uganda. On September 14, the Africa Travel 100 Awards will recognise tour operators excelling in promoting African destinations specifically to African travellers under the “Africans for Africa” theme.
Cross-Regional Collaboration
The summit’s focus on strengthening ties between East and West African tour operators seeks to merge West Africa’s football enthusiasm with East Africa’s rising tourism profile. Participants will develop cross-border itineraries combining football events with leisure, culture, and adventure tailored for African travellers attending AFCON 2027, fostering economic growth through enhanced sports tourism integration.
Akwaaba Market Features and Recognition
Beyond the summit, the Akwaaba African Travel Market includes events such as the Africa Food Fair, African Medical
Tourism Forum, African Tourism Conference, Destination Wedding showcase, African Youth Tourism Bantaba, Travel Technology sessions, and CHINET Aviacargo meetings. The event attracts exhibitors and delegates from over 20 countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ghana, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Seychelles, South Africa, Egypt, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates. The Nigerian Government and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation awarded Akwaaba an Award of Excellence in Tourism in 2022 for its significant role in advancing African travel trade.
