September 12, (THEWILL) — The 21st edition of the Akwaaba African Travel Market will take centre stage in Lagos from 14th to 16th September 2025 at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, with Air Peace, Lagos State Government, the Gambia, Wakanow, and Interswitch announced as key partners. The event, widely recognised as West Africa’s only international travel and tourism exhibition, has become one of the largest gatherings of tourism stakeholders in Africa and a critical driver of intra-African trade, travel, and cultural exchange.
This year’s edition promises to be historic as it will host the highest collection of airlines ever assembled at an African travel expo, underscoring Akwaaba’s reputation as a hub for aviation connectivity and partnerships across the continent. Organisers say the presence of leading carriers, combined with strong representation from tourism boards, hospitality groups, and service providers, will mark a defining moment for Africa’s travel and aviation industries.
More than 3,000 participants are expected –from government delegations, airlines, hotels, travel agencies, and logistics companies, to insurance firms, international buyers, and tourism professionals. For the second year running, the Akwaaba African Travel Market will run side by side with the Chinet Aviacargo Conference, now in its fifth edition, to highlight the synergies between tourism and the air cargo industry. Together, the twin events are designed to create new avenues for collaboration that will strengthen the continent’s aviation ecosystem and open fresh opportunities for export and trade.
The three-day programme has been carefully structured to balance exhibitions, networking, awards, and knowledge-sharing. Activities will open on Sunday, September 14th, with exhibitions followed by a grand opening ceremony, after which the ever-popular Jollof Rice War will provide a lively cultural interlude. The day will close with two of the most prestigious recognitions in African tourism—the Top 100 Hotel Awards and the Travellers Awards—celebrating excellence in hospitality and travel services.
On Monday, September 15th, the focus will shift to business-to-business interactions with a dedicated B2B session, a series of country days, and product launches. The African Tourism Conference will also feature prominently, anchored by a Domestic Tourism Session to explore growth opportunities within the continent. Other highlights include the Women in Tourism Conference and the celebrated Africa Travel 100 Awards, which will be rounded off with a colourful East African cocktail evening.
The closing day, Tuesday, September 16th, will be dedicated to business-focused conversations, starting with an Insurance Conference in the morning and continuing with a Cargo and Export Conference at midday. Later in the evening, the Youth Tourism Conference will spotlight the next generation of leaders and innovators in the travel industry. Exhibitions will run throughout the day, ensuring that participants continue to connect and explore business opportunities until the final curtain.
Since its inception more than two decades ago, the Akwaaba African Travel Market has evolved into a global platform for networking, cultural promotion, and strategic partnerships. It consistently attracts leading African destinations, global travel brands, and influential industry stakeholders, reinforcing Lagos’s role as Africa’s premier hub for tourism and business. This year’s partnerships with Air Peace, Lagos State, Gambia, Wakanow, and Interswitch further underline the event’s strategic importance, with each partner bringing unique value to the diverse mix of tourism, aviation, and financial services represented.
In a statement, the organisers described the 21st edition as a celebration of resilience and innovation in Africa’s tourism and hospitality industries. “Akwaaba continues to be the melting pot of Africa’s tourism, aviation, and hospitality industries. With strong partnerships from leading players such as Air Peace, Lagos State, Gambia, Wakanow and Interswitch, this edition will once again showcase Africa’s potential as the world’s next tourism frontier,” they said.
With Lagos serving as host city, the 21st Akwaaba African Travel Market is expected not only to showcase the best of Africa’s tourism offerings but also to further cement Nigeria’s economic capital as a leading hub for international business, travel, and culture. For airlines, hospitality providers, local entrepreneurs, and international investors alike, this year’s edition offers a rare opportunity to engage with the beating heart of Africa’s travel economy.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
