Nigeria will host the 2027 Annual African Travel Commission (ATC) Tourism Summit from March 16 to 17, 2027, at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos.
The two-day continental tourism gathering will bring together chief executives of tourism authorities, development institutions, private-sector leaders, investors, airlines, hospitality companies, travel and tour operators, destination management organisations, the media and other tourism stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.
The 2027 summit follows the inaugural ATC Pan-African Tourism Summit and Exhibition, held in Lagos in 2026, which focused on practical strategies for accelerating the growth, integration and competitiveness of Africa’s tourism industry.
The 2027 edition will build on the outcomes of the 2026 summit, with particular emphasis on four key pillars: Collaboration, Connectivity, Affordability and Cross-Border Movement.
According to the ATC, the four areas are critical to unlocking the potential of African tourism and creating a more integrated and competitive continental tourism economy.
Collaboration will remain central to the summit, with governments, tourism authorities, the private sector, airlines, development institutions and other stakeholders encouraged to work together on common solutions and joint tourism initiatives.
Connectivity discussions will focus on improving air and ground transportation links between African destinations, with the ATC recognising reliable and affordable transport as essential to expanding intra-African tourism.
The summit will also address the high cost of travelling within Africa, including airfares, accommodation and other travel-related services. Participants will explore practical measures to make African destinations more accessible to both African travellers and international visitors.
Cross-border movement will focus on barriers that restrict the movement of tourists and tourism businesses across African borders, including visa requirements, border procedures and other policies that can facilitate or hinder travel across the continent.
The summit comes as African countries seek to increase tourism’s contribution to economic development, employment creation, foreign exchange earnings and regional integration.
Despite its extensive natural and cultural assets, Africa continues to face challenges including high travel costs, limited air connectivity, restrictive visa regimes, inadequate tourism infrastructure, fragmented destination marketing and insufficient investment.
The summit will provide a high-level platform for governments and private-sector stakeholders to examine practical and sustainable solutions to these challenges, with a major focus on promoting intra-African travel and tourism.
The ATC said increasing the movement of African travellers within the continent could expand tourism markets, support airlines and hospitality businesses, stimulate investment and create opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises across the tourism value chain.
The commission will also promote greater collaboration among tourism authorities, airlines, hotels, tour operators, travel technology companies, financial institutions and development partners. Tourism investment and regional connectivity will remain key areas of discussion.
Nigeria’s hosting of the summit further underscores its role as an important tourism and economic hub in Africa. The country’s cultural heritage, creative industries, hospitality sector, business tourism potential and large domestic market give it significant potential to serve as a gateway for tourism and investment across West Africa and the wider continent.
The summit will feature high-level policy discussions, expert sessions, business networking, investment opportunities and tourism industry engagements. Destinations and businesses will also have opportunities to showcase and promote their products and services.
The ATC said it will work with its continental and international partners to develop the programme and ensure the summit produces practical outcomes that can support the development of African tourism.
The commission said the 2027 summit would seek to move discussions from policy dialogue to concrete partnerships, initiatives and commitments capable of delivering measurable improvements in African tourism.
The ATC will continue to advance its objectives through marketing, research and advocacy, including promoting African destinations, generating tourism data and evidence, and engaging governments and other stakeholders on policies that can facilitate travel, improve connectivity and strengthen cross-border movement.
Further details on the programme, speakers, registration, exhibition opportunities, sponsorship and partnership packages will be announced by the African Travel Commission in due course.
Boluwatife Enome
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