The Gambia Targets Nigerian Travel Market at Akwaaba 2026
The Gambia is set to strengthen its presence in Nigeria and the wider African travel market as the country prepares to participate in the 2026 Akwaaba Africa Travel and Tourism Market in Lagos.
The Gambia Tourism Board, GTBoard, will lead the country’s participation at the travel trade event scheduled to hold from September 13 to 15, 2026.
The event is expected to bring together major players from Africa’s tourism, travel and aviation industries.
For The Gambia, the expo will provide an opportunity to promote its tourism products, strengthen commercial relationships and engage directly with travel professionals and industry decision-makers.
The country’s participation is also expected to support efforts to increase destination visibility and attract more visitors from Nigeria and other African markets.
Destination Gambia Cocktail to Open Engagements
Ahead of the main travel expo, Team Gambia will host a Destination Gambia Promotional Cocktail Reception on September 12.
The reception will bring together travel agencies, tour operators, airlines, aviation stakeholders, logistics companies, investors and other tourism professionals.
The gathering is expected to provide a business platform for direct engagement between Gambian tourism stakeholders and members of the African travel trade.
Participants will also have an opportunity to learn more about The Gambia’s tourism experiences and explore possible areas of commercial cooperation.
The event is expected to focus on partnership development, investment opportunities and strategies for increasing visitor traffic to the country.
Tourism Minister Leads Gambian Delegation
The Gambian delegation will be led by the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Abdoulie Jobe.
He will be joined by the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Amie Njie.
Other members of the delegation include the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gambia Tourism Board, Mr. Momodou Bamba Saho, and the Director General of the Gambia Tourism Board, Mrs. Ida Jeng Njie.
Tourism stakeholders from The Gambia are also expected to participate in the event.
The delegation’s presence is expected to demonstrate the country’s commitment to expanding its tourism relationships across Africa.
The Gambia Targets MICE Tourism Growth
A major focus of The Gambia’s participation at Akwaaba 2026 will be the promotion of the country as an emerging destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, popularly known as MICE tourism.
MICE tourism has become an increasingly important segment of the global travel industry.
Business events, conferences, exhibitions and corporate gatherings can generate economic opportunities for hotels, airlines, restaurants, event organisers and other service providers.
The Gambia is seeking to use the Akwaaba platform to highlight its potential beyond traditional leisure tourism.
The country will promote its hospitality facilities, event infrastructure and opportunities for hosting corporate gatherings and other business-related events.
Growing Demand Creates New Opportunities
The growing demand for conferences and business events across Africa is creating new opportunities for tourism destinations.
Countries are increasingly competing to host international meetings, exhibitions and corporate events.
For The Gambia, developing its MICE tourism market could help diversify visitor arrivals and strengthen year-round tourism activity.
Leisure tourism can sometimes be affected by seasonal travel patterns.
Business events, however, can provide additional visitor traffic at different periods of the year.
The development of MICE tourism can also encourage investment in conference facilities, hotels and related infrastructure.
Akwaaba Offers Strategic Business Platform
The Akwaaba Africa Travel and Tourism Market has become an important meeting point for tourism professionals and travel businesses.
The event brings together tourism boards, airlines, hotels, tour operators, travel agencies and other industry stakeholders.
For destinations such as The Gambia, the platform provides direct access to potential business partners and travel buyers.
The 2026 edition is expected to create opportunities for tourism professionals to discuss new partnerships and commercial opportunities.
The Gambian delegation will seek to strengthen relationships with Nigerian and regional travel operators.
Nigeria Remains an Important Tourism Market
Nigeria is one of the major travel markets in West Africa.
The size of its population and its growing business and leisure travel market make it an important source of potential visitors for other African destinations.
The Gambia is expected to use its participation at Akwaaba 2026 to increase awareness of its tourism offerings among Nigerian travellers.
The country is also seeking to build stronger relationships with Nigerian travel agencies and tour operators.
Such partnerships could support the development of new travel packages and encourage more direct travel between Nigeria and The Gambia.
Focus on Intra-African Travel
The Gambian participation also reflects the growing importance of intra-African tourism.
African countries are increasingly seeking to attract visitors from within the continent.
Stronger aviation links, travel partnerships and tourism promotion could support this objective.
Tourism stakeholders have continued to advocate for closer cooperation between African destinations.
Collaboration between tourism boards, airlines and private-sector operators could help make travel across the continent easier and more attractive.
The Gambia Eyes New Tourism Partnerships
The Gambia Tourism Board sees its participation at Akwaaba 2026 as part of a broader destination marketing strategy.
The objective is to diversify tourism markets and develop stronger relationships with travel businesses and industry stakeholders.
The strategy is also expected to create opportunities for Gambian tourism operators and businesses.
By connecting with Nigerian and regional travel professionals, local operators could gain access to new customers and commercial partnerships.
The country will therefore use the Lagos event to promote both its leisure tourism experiences and its growing potential for business tourism.
A New Push for Destination Growth
The Gambia’s participation in the 2026 Akwaaba Travel Market represents more than a promotional visit.
It reflects a wider effort to position the country in Africa’s increasingly competitive tourism industry.
By promoting leisure travel, business events, investment opportunities and regional partnerships, the country is seeking to diversify its tourism economy.
The focus on MICE tourism could also help expand The Gambia’s position beyond its traditional image as a leisure destination.
As tourism professionals gather in Lagos in September, attention will turn to how effectively destinations convert visibility into commercial partnerships and visitor growth.
For The Gambia, Akwaaba 2026 provides an opportunity to engage directly with one of West Africa’s most important travel markets.
The country’s message will be clear: The Gambia is seeking to position itself not only as a destination for leisure travellers, but also as a growing hub for business tourism, investment, events and regional travel.
