The 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market commenced on September 13, 2026, at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria. The event runs through September 15 and is centered on sports tourism, highlighting the strategic role of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a catalyst for boosting intra-African travel and regional cooperation.
African Tour Operators’ Summit Returns After Eight Years
The event features the return of the African Tour Operators’ Summit after an eight-year break since 2018. The summit connects tour operators from Nigeria and other West African countries with counterparts from East African nations including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. These regions are collaborating to
develop multi-destination travel packages targeting football fans attending AFCON 2027, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The summit promotes networking and strategic partnerships that combine West Africa’s football prominence with East Africa’s renowned tourism attractions such as wildlife, beaches, and national parks. This cooperation aims to stimulate business opportunities for airlines, hotels, destination management companies, and other tourism providers across both regions.
Africa Travel 100 Awards to Recognize Top Tour Operators
The Africa Travel 100 Awards will be held on September 14, 2026, during Akwaaba. These awards recognize African tour operators who have significantly contributed to promoting African destinations to African travelers. Nomination criteria include a
minimum of five years’ experience in selling outbound tours into Africa, conducting at least five tours to African countries in the last 18 months, and being based in Africa. Nominees must be endorsed by a past award winner or a tour operator from another country.
Since 2016, the Africa Travel 100 Awards have celebrated various categories, including top travel companies, women leaders, and young professionals under 40, underscoring the awards’ importance in advancing intra-African regional tourism.
Akwaaba Remains West Africa’s Premier Travel Expo
Akwaaba African Travel Market continues to be the largest and only travel expo in West Africa focused exclusively on travel and tourism. Over its
three-day run, it brings together industry stakeholders for networking and recognition. The 2026 edition features diverse events such as the African Food Fair, Medical Tourism Expo, Africa Youth Tourism Bantaba, Wonders of Nigeria Expo, and the Aviation & Cargo Conference.
The expo attracts representatives from a broad range of countries including The Gambia, Kenya, Benin, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Seychelles, Ethiopia, and many others. Historically, the event has hosted notable guests such as Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Dawda Jawara, alongside ministers, ambassadors, and governors.
Sports Tourism and Regional Collaboration Driving Growth
The central focus on the 2027 AFCON aligns
with efforts to use the tournament as a platform for increased cross-border tourism and economic integration across Africa’s regions. The combination of West Africa’s football appeal with East Africa’s tourism infrastructure aims to leverage AFCON 2027 to generate new business for airlines, hotels, and travel service providers, while expanding multi-destination itineraries for football supporters.
The event’s comprehensive program further supports this vision through initiatives like the African Medical Tourism Forum, African Tourism Conference, and travel technology sessions, contributing to a broader framework for intra-African travel collaboration and market development.
