Akwaaba African Travel Market, a leading international travel and tourism exhibition in West Africa, is set to return to Kenya as an exhibitor at the 16th Magical Kenya Travel Expo. The event is scheduled to take place from October 6 to 8 at the Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum in Nairobi, Kenya. This will be Akwaaba's second participation in the expo, having made its debut in 2025. The Lagos-based travel fair has been promoting intra-African tourism and connecting travel professionals across the continent for over two decades.
Akwaaba's return to the Kenyan tourism marketplace is expected to provide a platform for Nigerian and other African travel professionals to strengthen business relationships, promote tourism products, and explore opportunities for increased intra-African travel. The travel market has consistently participated in major international travel exhibitions, including World Travel Market London, EMITT Travel Expo in Istanbul, and ITB Berlin in Germany. Akwaaba has positioned itself as a platform for linking African tour operators, hospitality businesses, airlines, and other tourism stakeholders.
The Akwaaba African Travel Market has a proven track record of promoting intra-African travel and tourism. Over its 22 years of existence, the event has attracted more than 3,000 tourism professionals from over 20 African countries. The three-day exhibition is held annually in Lagos and brings together delegates and exhibitors from across Africa. Participants use the platform to establish commercial partnerships and promote destinations, hospitality services, and travel products.
Akwaaba's focus on promoting Africa to Africans has contributed to the growth of intra-African travel. The organisers said the initiative had successfully opened up intra-African travel by creating opportunities for tourism businesses and professionals from different countries to connect directly. The event has received international recognition for its contribution to tourism, including an Award of Excellence from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, now known as UN Tourism, and the Nigerian Ministry of Tourism in 2022.
The 2026 participation in Kenya comes as Akwaaba continues to expand its presence beyond Nigeria through partnerships and participation in international tourism fairs. Akwaaba has also attracted prominent political and business figures over the years, including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Gambian President Dawda Jawara, and President Bola Tinubu. The event hosts a number of tourism-related initiatives, including the annual Africa Travel 100 Awards and the West African Jollof Rice War.
Beyond its core travel exhibition, Akwaaba is also known for hosting other tourism-related events. The African Medical Tourism Expo is one of these events, which aims to promote medical tourism in Africa. The organisers said the 2026 participation at MKTE would further strengthen the fair's role in promoting African destinations and encouraging Africans to explore tourism opportunities within the continent.
The next Akwaaba African Travel Market is scheduled to hold in Lagos from September 5 to 7, 2027, marking the 23rd edition of the event. Following this, Akwaaba will continue to promote intra-African travel and tourism, building on its success over the years. The event's organisers remain committed to providing a platform for African tourism professionals to connect and promote their products and services.
Key points
- Akwaaba African Travel Market to exhibit at 16th Magical Kenya Travel Expo
- Event aims to promote intra-African travel and tourism
- Akwaaba has attracted over 3,000 tourism professionals from 20 African countries over 22 years
