The 20th Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos united tourism experts from across Africa, focusing on collaboration, technology, and overcoming visa challenges.
The 20th Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos successfully gathered tourism experts, hoteliers, airlines, and travel agents from across Africa.
The event focused on promoting African tourism, addressing challenges such as restrictive visa policies, and emphasising the importance of technology and community involvement in the sector’s growth.
The 20th edition of the Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos brought together a diverse array of tourism experts, aviation professionals, hoteliers, airlines, and travel agents from across Africa.
This significant event aimed to boost tourism within the continent, spotlighting challenges and opportunities in the sector.
Ambassador Ikechi Uko, the organiser of the event, shared the origin of Akwaaba, emphasising the need for Africans to promote their destinations within Africa rather than abroad.
This vision led to the establishment of the Akwaaba African Travel Market in 2004, which has since become a pivotal platform for promoting African tourism.
The event, supported by MTN and the Lagos State Government, included various panel discussions where experts highlighted issues hindering tourism development in Africa.
Challenges such as restrictive visa policies, insufficient technology adoption, and lack of community involvement were identified as key barriers.
Visa policies remain a significant hurdle, with experts noting that high costs and lengthy processing times deter tourists from exploring multiple African countries.
Additionally, the underutilisation of technology, particularly in digital payments and social media, was cited as a major challenge in promoting Africa’s unique destinations.
Community involvement was also stressed as crucial to tourism development. Experts highlighted the need for governments and private sectors to collaborate with local communities, ensuring that their knowledge and resources are utilised effectively.
The event concluded with a call for greater collaboration across Africa’s tourism industry. Dr. Adama Bah from Gambia advocated
for a Pan-African travel market, leveraging Africa’s rich cultural heritage to enhance the continent’s appeal. He stressed the importance of implementing strategies and collaborating with organisations like the African Union to realise Africa’s full tourism potential.
The 20th Akwaaba African Travel Market ended with a promise of a more comprehensive event next year, bringing together stakeholders from tourism, aviation, and related industries under one roof in Lagos.
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