COPITOUR Reaffirms Regional Tourism Leadership at Africa Tourism Summit in Lagos, Nigeria.

Lagos, Nigeria — The ongoing Africa Tourism Summit is taking place in Lagos State, Nigeria, under the auspices of the Africa Tourism Commission (ATC) in conjunction with the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), with the support of key partners including the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), ECOWAS, and other regional and private sector stakeholders.

The high-level Summit has brought together tourism stakeholders from across Africa, including government officials, heads of tourism agencies, industry leaders, private sector operators, development partners, and regional institutions. The Summit is positioned as a strategic platform to strengthen cooperation, address critical challenges facing African tourism, and reposition the sector as a major driver of economic growth, job creation, cultural diplomacy, and regional integration across the continent.

A major highlight of the Summit was the goodwill message delivered by Dr. Badaki Aliyu, President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), who represented the President of the Confederation of Private Sector Organisations of Tourism in ECOWAS (COPITOUR), Mr. Mamadou Racine Sy.

In his address, Dr. Aliyu warmly welcomed participants to Lagos and conveyed the goodwill of Mr. Racine Sy to all delegates. He noted that the Summit reflects Africa’s growing recognition of tourism as one of the continent’s strongest tools for economic diversification, job creation, cultural diplomacy, and regional integration.

He reaffirmed COPITOUR’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote institutional collaboration, capacity building, and sustainable tourism development across Africa. According to him, COPITOUR continues to champion cooperation among destinations and tourism stakeholders, aligning perfectly with Africa’s aspiration to build a resilient, inclusive, and competitive tourism industry driven by partnerships rather than isolation.

Dr. Aliyu further emphasized that Nigeria, as host nation and a proud member of COPITOUR, views tourism not only as an economic opportunity but also as a unifying force. He stated that Nigeria’s membership of COPITOUR provides a vital platform for knowledge exchange, policy alignment, and strategic partnerships that will help unlock the immense tourism potential of the country and the wider West African sub-region.

He stressed that within the ECOWAS region, collaboration remains essential. By working together, governments, private sector players, and regional institutions, countries can promote seamless travel, develop cross-border tourism products, enhance destination marketing, and improve the overall visitor experience. He affirmed that Nigeria is ready to play its role in advancing the shared regional tourism agenda.

Concluding his goodwill message, Dr. Aliyu stated that the future of African tourism lies in unity, collaboration, and shared vision, describing the Summit as more than a meeting but a call to action for Africa to build a collective tourism identity that is competitive, innovative, and sustainable.

Dr. Aliyu also commended the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, NTDA, for his presence at the Summit and for his commitment to the development of tourism in Nigeria and across Africa.

Beyond the goodwill address, the Summit featured in-depth discussions on several strategic issues critical to the growth and sustainability of African tourism.

Participants were briefed on the history of the Africa Tourism Commission (ATC), its original mandate, and its role in fostering tourism cooperation across the continent. Strong emphasis was placed on the urgent resuscitation and repositioning of ATC as a central continental institution capable of coordinating tourism development, advocacy, and strategic partnerships among African nations.

The Summit also highlighted ATC’s commitment to forming strong partnerships with relevant tourism authorities in African states to harmonize policies, develop tourism products, improve destination competitiveness, and attract investment into the sector.

Participants raised serious concerns about visa procurement challenges across African regions, noting that restrictive and cumbersome visa regimes continue to discourage intra-African travel and tourism growth.

Discussions further focused on aviation challenges, particularly the absence of a strong national carrier in Nigeria. Participants made a strong call for the establishment of a national carrier, noting that improved air connectivity is essential to the growth of tourism and regional trade.

The role of ECOWAS was also underscored, with calls for the regional body to take a leadership role in resolving visa, aviation, and cross-border tourism challenges within the sub-region.

The Summit featured high-level panel sessions with representatives from key institutions. Some of the panelists included the Legal Adviser to COPITOUR, Mr. Amdy Sene, the Head of Publicity of AITEC, Mr. Kazeem Balogun, Sheik Tejan from the Gambia and a representative of ECOWAS, Mr. Olalekan Afolabi, who shared insights on policy reforms, private sector engagement, and regional integration strategies for African tourism.

The Africa Tourism Summit in Lagos represents a significant milestone in Africa’s journey toward a more unified, competitive, and sustainable tourism industry. Through strategic collaboration among governments, private sector stakeholders, regional institutions, and development partners such as the Africa Development Bank, Africa can overcome existing barriers and unlock its vast tourism potential.

The Summit stands as a strong call to action for all stakeholders to move beyond national boundaries, embrace partnerships, and work collectively toward a shared and prosperous African tourism future.