The African Travel Commission (ATC) has announced that Nigeria will once again host the 2027 Annual African Travel Commission (ATC) Tourism Summit, scheduled to take place from March 16–17, 2027 in Lagos, Nigeria.
The two-day continental tourism gathering will bring together chief executive officers 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 successful inaugural ATC Pan-African Tourism Summit and Exhibition, held in Lagos in 2026, which examined practical strategies for accelerating the growth, integration and competitiveness of Africa’s tourism industry.
The 2027 edition will build on the theme and outcomes of the 2026 Summit, with particular emphasis on four critical pillars: Collaboration, Connectivity, Affordability and Cross-Border Movement.
The ATC considers these four areas fundamental to unlocking the full potential of African tourism and creating a more integrated and competitive continental tourism economy.
The 2027 Summit comes at a critical time as African countries seek to increase tourism’s contribution to economic development, employment creation, foreign exchange earnings and regional integration.
Despite the continent’s enormous 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 the private sector to examine practical and sustainable solutions to these challenges.
A major focus will be the promotion of intra-African travel and tourism. Increasing the movement of African travellers within the continent can 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 ATC said it will promote greater collaboration among tourism authorities, airlines, hotels, tour operators, travel technology companies, financial institutions and development partners.
Tourism investment and regional connectivity will also remain important areas of discussion, with the Commission encouraging governments and development partners to prioritise tourism infrastructure and create a more favourable environment for private-sector investment.
Nigeria’s hosting of the 2027 Summit reinforces its position as an important tourism and economic hub in Africa.
With its diverse cultural heritage, creative industries, hospitality sector, business tourism potential and large domestic market, Nigeria has considerable potential to serve as a gateway for tourism and investment across West Africa and the wider continent.
Hosting the Summit at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, one of Nigeria’s leading hospitality and conference venues, will provide an appropriate setting for high-level policy discussions, business networking, tourism exhibitions and stakeholder engagements.
The event will also provide an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s tourism destinations, products, hospitality facilities and investment opportunities to an international audience.
The African Travel Commission is inviting African governments, tourism ministries and authorities, airlines, hotels, travel companies, tour operators, investors, financial institutions, development agencies, technology companies, destination organisations, academia and the media to participate in the 2027 Summit.
The programme will feature high-level policy discussions, expert sessions, business networking, investment opportunities and tourism industry engagements, alongside opportunities for destinations and businesses to promote their products and services.
The 2027 Summit will build on the momentum generated by the inaugural ATC Tourism Summit and Exhibition and its call for greater cooperation among African countries and stronger action to remove barriers to tourism development.
The 2027 Summit will therefore serve not only as a platform for dialogue, but also as an instrument for advancing the ATC’s broader mission of promoting intra-African travel, strengthening tourism cooperation and positioning Africa as a competitive and sustainable global tourism destination.
Further details concerning the programme, speakers, registration, exhibition opportunities, sponsorship and partnership packages will be announced by the African Travel Commission in due course.
