The organisers of the Akwaaba African Travel Market announced plans to utilise the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to enhance intra-African tourism. The second African Tour Operators Summit will be held as part of Akwaaba’s 22nd edition in Lagos, Nigeria, from September 13 to 15, 2026.
Focus on East-West African Tour Operator Partnerships
The summit will aim to foster closer collaborations between tour operators from East and West Africa. AFCON 2027, the continent’s major football tournament, will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. These countries offer key destinations for tourism development linked to the event.
Business Meetings Target Cross-Border Travel Around AFCON
During the summit, participating tour operators will conduct business-to-business
sessions to form strategic alliances and develop cross-border itineraries. The goal is to create specialised travel packages that combine football events with leisure, cultural, and adventure activities tailored for African travellers during AFCON 2027.
Africa Travel 100 Awards and Broader Event Activities
The Africa Travel 100 Awards will take place on September 14, 2026, recognising tour operators excelling in promoting African destinations to travellers from the continent. The 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market also includes 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 events.
Akwaaba is acknowledged as the
largest travel and tourism exhibition in West Africa, attracting 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 event earned an Award of Excellence in Tourism from the Nigerian Government and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation in 2022 for its contribution to promoting travel trade growth across Africa.
