African tourism stakeholders call for visa reforms, better air connectivity, and public-private partnerships to boost growth.
Stakeholders in Africa’s tourism sector have called for urgent policy reforms on visas and border barriers, improved air connectivity, and stronger public-private partnerships to accelerate the continent’s tourism growth.
Speaking at the inaugural African Travel Commission (ATC) Summit and Exhibition in Lagos, they said addressing these issues would ensure sustainable intra-African travel, foster tourism and cultural exchanges, strengthen the private sector, and deliver a significant economic impact across African countries.
The summit, held from February 11–12, 2026, at the Eko Hotels and Suites under the theme: “Accelerating Africa’s Tourism Growth Through Innovation, Partnerships and Sustainable Investments”, marked the first major continental engagement of the revived ATC since its registration as a non-profit organisation in Ghana in 2021. The ATC was originally founded in 1965 by the Chief Executive Officers of National Tourism Organisations across Africa to provide a unified voice for the continent in global tourism.
Delegates at the summit, drawn from diverse sectors of the tourism and travel industry, recalled the ATC’s historic role in the establishment of the World Tourism Organisation—now known as UN Tourism—and in initiating the annual World Tourism Day, celebrated on September 27 each year.
Highlighting the continent’s untapped potential, participants noted, “Despite Africa’s rich cultural heritage, diverse ecosystems, and creative industries, tourism remains underutilised across much of the continent.”
The summit revealed that global tourism reached record levels in 2025, with Africa contributing approximately USD 225 billion to GDP and supporting nearly 30 million jobs.
However, the contribution of West Africa to GDP from tourism remains relatively low compared to other regions, underscoring the need for deliberate policy and structural reforms. Key challenges identified include limited air connectivity, restrictive visa regimes, weak regional integration, and insufficient collaboration between governments and the private sector.
The two-day event featured six papers by eminent speakers and four panel sessions with distinguished leaders from academia and the industry. Discussions centred on innovation, partnerships, sustainable investments, and the role of tourism as a catalyst for economic growth and regional integration.
Summit participants agreed on the need for the ATC to lead continental research, establish a comprehensive tourism statistics database, and implement training and capacity-building programmes for stakeholders across the sector.
At the conclusion of the summit, delegates adopted several major resolutions. “African governments, regional economic communities, and the African Union must review and harmonise visa policies, reduce or eliminate visa fees for African travellers, and promote freer movement of people across the continent,” the resolutions stated. Rwanda, Kenya, and Ghana were commended for removing visa restrictions for African citizens.
The summit also recommended, “The establishment of a Nigerian national carrier to serve as a strategic hub airline for West Africa, alongside increased investment in aviation infrastructure and the expansion of intra-African air routes.”
Governments and the private sector were urged to collaborate on shaping tourism policies, promoting joint investments, and supporting innovation, skills development, and digital transformation in the sector.
The ATC was mandated to lead continental research on tourism trends, advocate for harmonised tourism policies, and develop shared marketing platforms to promote Africa as a single global destination.
Participants further emphasised, “Tourism must be positioned as a strategic tool for economic integration,” with regional blocs such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) encouraged to mainstream tourism into development frameworks.
It was also resolved that Nigeria will host the 2027 edition of the Summit and Exhibition, with the African Travel Commission expected to announce the dates in due course.
In its closing statement, the summit reaffirmed its commitment, saying, “We remain dedicated to strengthening the ATC as the leading continental platform for tourism research, marketing, and advocacy.”
Participants concluded by calling on African governments, development partners, airlines, investors, and tourism stakeholders to support the implementation of the resolutions in the collective interest of Africa’s sustainable tourism development.