The 22nd edition of the Akwaaba African Travel Market will incorporate the second African Tour Operators’ Summit, designed to connect Africa’s sports and tourism sectors by focusing on opportunities around the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Scheduled to take place in Lagos, Nigeria, from 13 to 15 September 2026, the event will bring together tour operators from East and West Africa to formulate strategies that leverage the continent’s largest football tournament to enhance intra-African tourism.
African Tour Operators’ Summit to Promote Networking and Partnerships
The summit aims to serve as a platform for African tour operators to network, build partnerships, and jointly develop travel packages tailored for supporters
of the 2027 AFCON tournament. Activities will include business-to-business meetings, networking sessions, and panels discussing the expansion of cross-border tourism through sports.
AFCON 2027 Hosts and Regional Collaboration
The 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. This presents a strategic opportunity to unite East Africa’s premier tourist destinations with West Africa’s historic status as Africa’s football powerhouse, recognized for producing the most AFCON qualifiers. The collaboration between tour operators from these regions at the Lagos summit is intended to strengthen tourism products that appeal across the continent.
Africa Travel 100 Awards and Event Recognition
On 14 September 2026, the Africa Travel 100 Awards will be presented during the summit.
These awards recognize tour operators that have significantly promoted African destinations within the continent under the “Africans for Africa” theme. Akwaaba African Travel Market, West Africa’s largest travel and tourism exposition and one of Africa’s top five, has received an Award of Excellence in Tourism from both the Nigerian Government and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 2022.
Exhibitors and Side Events
The 2026 Akwaaba event will feature participants from over 20 countries, including The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Seychelles, Ethiopia, South Africa, Egypt, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Side events will include the Africa Food Fair, African Medical
Tourism Forum, African Tourism Conference, Destination Wedding showcase, African Youth Tourism Bantaba, Travel Technology Forum, and CHINET Aviacargo.
