The 16th edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo is scheduled for October 6 to 8, 2026, at the Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum in Nairobi, Kenya. The event’s theme is ‘Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence: Shaping the Future of Tourism’. This annual East African tourism trade fair connects local and international stakeholders.
Akwaaba Returns to Boost Intra-African Tourism at MKTE 2026
The Lagos-based Akwaaba African Travel Market will participate again as an exhibitor at the Magical Kenya Travel Expo in 2026 after its inaugural appearance in 2025. Operating for 22 years, Akwaaba focuses on promoting intra-African travel by linking tour operators, hospitality providers, airlines, and tourism professionals
across the continent. Over its history, it has attracted more than 3,000 tourism professionals from over 20 African countries annually.
Akwaaba received an Award of Excellence in 2022 jointly from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the Nigerian Ministry of Tourism for its contributions to African tourism. The market creates opportunities for fostering business relationships and promoting African travel products within Africa.
Prominent Leaders Support Akwaaba’s Tourism Initiatives
Notable figures who have attended Akwaaba events include Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former Gambian President Dawda Jawara. Beyond its core exhibition, Akwaaba organizes several tourism-related initiatives such as the Africa Travel
100 Awards, the African Medical Tourism Expo, and the West African Jollof Rice War.
Akwaaba’s Expanding Network Across Global Travel Expos
Akwaaba has actively participated in major international travel fairs including World Travel Market in London, EMITT Travel Expo in Istanbul, ITB in Berlin, the Magical Kenya Travel Expo itself, Pearl of Africa Travel Expo in Uganda, Kilifair Expo in Arusha, Sanganai in Zimbabwe, and South Africa’s Travel Indaba. The continuous presence at these events solidifies its importance as a platform for African tourism stakeholders to network and promote intra-continental travel.
Organisers Stress Intra-African Connectivity and Upcoming Lagos Event
According to Akwaaba organisers, “Akwaaba, targeted mainly at Africans promoting Africa to Africans, has successfully opened
up intra-African travel connecting Africans to each other.” The next Akwaaba African Travel Market is scheduled to take place in Lagos from September 5 to 7, 2027, marking its 23rd edition.
