The Akwaaba African Travel Market will hold its second African Tour Operators Summit from September 13 to 15, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria, coinciding with the event’s 22nd edition. The summit is designed to leverage the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournament as a catalyst for intra-African tourism growth.
AFCON 2027 will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The summit aims to foster partnerships between West African and East African tour operators to create specialised travel packages and curated experiences linked to the football championship. This approach connects West Africa’s passionate football fanbase with East Africa’s increasing
tourism appeal.
Tour operators attending the summit will participate in business-to-business meetings to establish strategic collaborations and develop cross-border itineraries that integrate football events with cultural, leisure, and adventure activities for African travellers. The Africa Travel 100 Awards ceremony, scheduled for September 14, 2026, will recognise operators excelling in promoting African destinations to African travellers under the theme “Africans for Africa.”
The 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market features additional events, including 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, alongside exhibitions and networking
opportunities. The event draws 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.
In recognition of its contribution to developing Africa’s travel trade, the Akwaaba African Travel Market received an Award of Excellence in Tourism from the Nigerian Government and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in 2022.
The 2026 summit aims to capitalise on Africa’s significant football following to stimulate regional tourism and economic growth by uniting the sport and travel sectors across the continent.
