The African Travel Commission (ATC) has announced its first event of the year, the Pan-African Tourism Summit and Exhibition, scheduled to be held from February 11 to 12, 2026 at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. The high-level Continental Assembly aims to reposition tourism as a strategic driver of economic growth, regional integration and sustainable development across Africa.
The summit is in collaboration with the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with the support of a strategic partnership from the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
It is expected to bring together policy makers, investors, development partners and industry leaders from across the continent and beyond. The ATC Tourism Summit and Exhibition is designed to go beyond rhetoric and focus on practical, actionable strategies to unlock the entire tourism value chain.
Discussions will span transport and hospitality, creative industries, digital innovation and community-based tourism. Held under the theme ‘Accelerating Africa’s tourism growth through innovation, partnerships and sustainable investment’, the summit will focus on tourism policy harmonization and regulatory reform. Financing tourism infrastructure and destinations. Public-private partnerships and investment readiness. Digital transformation and destination marketing. Sustainable, climate-smart, community-driven tourism. Youth Entrepreneurship and SME Participation in the Tourism Value Chain Speaking ahead of the event, ATC Executive Director Lucky Onoriode George (PhD) said Africa must start treating tourism as a serious economic industry and not just a leisure activity. “Tourism is trade, tourism is infrastructure, tourism is employment.
George added that the cooperation between ATC, NTDA, ECOWAS and AfDB reflects the growing recognition that tourism development requires strong institutional coordination and an aligned policy framework.
The Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, as the host partner, is expected to showcase Nigeria’s new tourism vision, highlighting opportunities across culture, heritage, entertainment, ecotourism and domestic travel. Nigeria’s hosting of the summit underscores Lagos’ role as a gateway city and regional hub for business, culture and connectivity.
ECOWAS’ engagement has a particular focus on cross-border travel facilitation, regional cooperation and intra-African mobility, particularly within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Meanwhile, the African Development Bank Group’s strategic partnership brings investment credibility and development finance expertise, reinforcing the need for bankable tourism projects, infrastructure financing and sustainable investment models across the continent.
The Exhibition segment provides a platform for African destinations, tourism authorities, airlines, hospitality brands, travel technology companies and cultural institutions to showcase their products, services and investment opportunities. ATC said the summit comes at a critical time for Africa, as changing global travel patterns, growing interest in experiential tourism and increased intra-African travel present a unique opportunity to reposition the continent as a unified, competitive global destination.
“The future of African tourism lies in cooperation, not competition,” the committee said, noting that the summit will provide a platform for African countries to speak with one voice, attract serious investment and protect the interests of travelers and host communities.
Beyond dialogue, the ATC Tourism Summit and Exhibition is expected to deliver concrete outcomes, including policy recommendations, investment commitments, partnership frameworks, and an implementation roadmap to guide tourism development efforts across the region.
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