Lagos is poised to take centre stage in shaping the future of Africa’s tourism industry as the African Travel Commission (ATC) prepares to host a landmark Pan-African Tourism Summit and Exhibition in the city.
Scheduled for February 11–12, 2026, the high-level gathering will take place at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, and is expected to draw policymakers, investors, development partners and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond. The summit aims to reposition tourism as a critical driver of economic growth, regional integration and sustainable development on the continent.
The event is being organised by the African Travel Commission in collaboration with the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with strategic partnership support from the African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Organisers say the collaboration reflects a growing recognition that Africa’s tourism potential can only be unlocked through coordinated policies, strong institutions and sustainable investment frameworks.
Despite its rich cultural heritage, diverse natural attractions and youthful population, Africa’s tourism sector remains largely underutilised. Development experts argue that, if properly structured, tourism could significantly boost job creation, foreign exchange earnings, infrastructure development and inclusive growth across the continent.
Against this backdrop, the ATC Tourism Summit and Exhibition is designed to move beyond rhetoric and focus on practical, actionable strategies to unlock the full value chain of tourism. Key discussions will cover transportation and hospitality, creative and cultural industries, digital innovation, destination marketing and community-based tourism models.
Speaking ahead of the event, ATC Executive Director, Lucky Onoriode George, PhD, said Africa must begin to treat tourism as a serious economic industry rather than merely a leisure activity. He noted that tourism, when properly structured, serves as a catalyst for trade, infrastructure development and employment creation.
The involvement of ECOWAS places particular emphasis on cross-border travel facilitation, regional cooperation and intra-African mobility, especially within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Meanwhile, the African Development Bank Group’s participation brings development finance expertise and investment credibility, reinforcing the push for bankable tourism projects, sustainable financing models and infrastructure investment across Africa.
Held under the theme “Accelerating Africa’s Tourism Growth through Innovation, Partnerships and Sustainable Investments,” the summit will focus on tourism policy harmonisation and regulatory reform, financing tourism infrastructure, public–private partnerships, digital transformation, climate-smart tourism, youth entrepreneurship and SME participation in tourism value chains.
Melissa Enoch
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