By Nnasom David

The African Tourism Board (ATB) has reinforced its strategic partnership with South Africa following a high-level diplomatic meeting at the South African High Commission in Abuja.

The engagement was led by Ambassador Adefunke Oni, Deputy Secretary General of the ATB, who headed the Board’s delegation as its senior representative. She was accompanied by Ambassador Vera Sharon Ohioma, ATB Regional Director for North, West, and Central Africa. The delegation held official consultations with Her Excellency Lindi Mminele, Acting High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria.

The meeting forms part of preparatory activities ahead of Ambassador Oni’s official visit to Cape Town for World Travel Market (WTM) Africa 2026, scheduled for April 13–15. During the mission, the ATB is expected to advance its continental tourism development agenda and strengthen cooperation with public and private sector stakeholders.

During discussions, Ambassador Oni reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to positioning Africa as a unified and globally competitive tourism destination. She presented the ATB’s 2026 Strategic Vision, which aims to transform the continent into a “Single Tourism Block” through harmonised travel policies, digital integration of tourism systems, and expanded investment in community-based tourism initiatives that promote inclusive economic growth. A key target within the strategy is a 15 percent increase in intra-African travel by 2026, supported by enhanced bilateral partnerships, coordinated marketing efforts, and stronger policy alignment among African states.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of Africa’s tourism resurgence. The continent recorded approximately 81 million international arrivals in 2025, representing an 8 percent year-on-year increase and positioning Africa as the fastest-growing tourism region globally. Tourism currently accounts for about 41 percent of Africa’s service exports, highlighting its growing economic significance.

In her remarks, Acting High Commissioner Lindi Mminele reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to regional tourism collaboration and integration. She noted that South Africa welcomed an estimated 10.5 million international visitors in 2025, with the sector supporting roughly 1.8 million jobs and contributing nearly 9 percent to national GDP.

Both sides also confirmed alignment on participation in major upcoming industry platforms, including WTM Africa, Tourism Indaba (May 11–14), and the Africa Live Events Conference (May 23–25). These events are expected to serve as key avenues for investment promotion, policy dialogue, and global positioning of Africa’s tourism offerings.

The Abuja engagement marks another milestone in strengthening Nigeria–South Africa tourism relations and advancing continental integration objectives in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which recognises tourism as a catalyst for economic growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development.