ATB Strengthens Strategic Tourism Collaboration with South Africa Ahead of WTM Africa 2026

The African Tourism Board (ATB) has further consolidated its diplomatic and strategic relations with South Africa following a high-level engagement held at the South African High Commission in Abuja.

The meeting was led by Amb. Adefunke Oni, Deputy Secretary-General of the ATB, who headed the Board’s delegation in her capacity as the organisation’s senior representative. She was accompanied by Amb. Vera Sharon Ohioma, Regional Director for North, West, and Central Africa, underscoring the continental scope and strategic importance of the visit. The delegation held formal consultations with Her Excellency Lindi Mminele, Acting High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Nigeria.

The diplomatic exchange forms part of preparations for the Deputy Secretary-General’s official mission to Cape Town for the upcoming World Travel Market Africa 2026, scheduled for April 13–15, where the ATB will advance its continental tourism agenda and deepen collaboration with key stakeholders.

During the meeting, Amb. Oni highlighted the African Tourism Board’s commitment to positioning Africa as a unified and globally competitive tourism destination. She presented the organisation’s 2026 Strategic Vision, which seeks to transform the continent into a “Single Tourism Block” through harmonised travel policies, digital integration across tourism systems, and increased investment in community-based tourism initiatives that ensure equitable economic participation at the grassroots level.

A central pillar of this strategy is the goal of achieving a 15 percent growth in intra-African travel by 2026, driven by strengthened bilateral partnerships, coordinated marketing, and policy alignment among member states.

The engagement comes at a time when Africa’s tourism sector is experiencing significant growth. The continent recorded approximately 81 million international arrivals in 2025, representing an 8 percent increase and establishing Africa as the fastest-growing tourism region globally. Tourism has also emerged as a major contributor to trade, accounting for roughly 41 percent of Africa’s total service exports.

In her remarks, Her Excellency Lindi Mminele, Acting High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Nigeria, reaffirmed South Africa’s strong support for collaborative tourism initiatives and regional integration efforts. South Africa continues to play a pivotal role in Africa’s tourism recovery and expansion, having welcomed an estimated 10.5 million international visitors in 2025. The sector sustains around 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs and contributes nearly 9 percent to the country’s gross domestic product, highlighting its critical importance to national development.

Both parties also aligned on participation in upcoming flagship industry events, including WTM Africa, the Tourism Indaba scheduled for May 11–14, and the Africa Live Events Conference set for May 23–25. These platforms are expected to facilitate investment opportunities, foster policy dialogue, and enhance Africa’s visibility within the global tourism marketplace.

The Abuja engagement represents a significant milestone in strengthening Nigeria–South Africa tourism relations and advancing the broader objectives of continental integration. Both sides concluded the discussions by reiterating the vital role of tourism in driving economic growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development, in line with the vision of the African Union Agenda 2063.