VoyagesAfriq, Africa’s leading travel and tourism magazine, has officially released its January 2026 edition, setting a strong and symbolic tone for the global tourism calendar at the start of the year. The latest publication, Issue 037, positions itself as both a chronicle of a historic leadership transition in global tourism governance and a forward-looking guide to the opportunities, debates and destinations shaping Africa’s tourism future in 2026.
Headlining the edition is an in-depth and exclusive focus on the assumption of office by Her Excellency Shaikha Nasser Alnuwais as Secretary-General of UN Tourism. Her appointment marks a watershed moment in the organisation’s 50-year history, as she becomes both the first woman and the youngest person to lead the global tourism body. VoyagesAfriq dedicates extensive coverage to her acceptance speech at the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh, where she outlined a bold, people-centred vision anchored in inclusive, purpose-driven leadership.
The magazine highlights the five strategic pillars that will guide Shaikha Al Nowais’ tenure: responsible tourism, capacity building, technology for good, innovative financing and smart governance. Through detailed reporting and analysis, VoyagesAfriq captures the significance of this leadership transition, framing it as a shift from growth measured purely by numbers to tourism that delivers deeper social, economic and environmental impact, particularly for developing regions such as Africa.
Beyond leadership, the January 2026 issue places Africa firmly at the centre of global tourism investment conversations. A major feature examines a newly launched UN Tourism regional report that identifies Africa as one of the world’s most promising frontiers for tourism investment and long-term growth. The magazine reports that Africa attracted over USD 50 billion in foreign direct investment in 2024, with tourism playing an increasingly strategic role in services exports, job creation and economic diversification. Readers are taken through sub-regional opportunities, from ecotourism and conservation finance in East Africa to cultural and diaspora tourism in West Africa, and integrated resort development in North Africa.
The edition also captures key institutional outcomes from the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly, including the decision to host the 27th General Assembly in the Dominican Republic in 2027, the confirmation of China’s Shanghai as a new UN Tourism regional office, and the move to institutionalise the Africa & Americas Summit as a permanent platform for South-South cooperation. VoyagesAfriq’s reporting places these decisions within a broader narrative of a more multipolar and inclusive global tourism governance structure, with Africa playing a more assertive role.
On the destination front, the magazine delivers a rich mix of policy insight and inspirational storytelling. Features include Seychelles’ renewed commitment to authentic and sustainable tourism under its new Tourism and Culture Minister, Namibia’s strategic push into the meetings and conventions market, Madagascar’s campaign to restore its tourism image, and Sierra Leone’s quiet but determined tourism renaissance. These stories are complemented by lifestyle and culture-driven pieces that underscore tourism’s power as a connector of people, memory and identity across the continent.
Aviation and connectivity, described as a cornerstone of tourism growth, also receive prominent attention. The January edition spotlights AviaDev Africa’s 10th anniversary conference scheduled for June 2026 in Gaborone, Botswana, positioning it as a critical platform for route development, airline-airport collaboration and tourism growth across Sub-Saharan Africa. Analytical commentary challenges policymakers to move beyond rhetoric and address the real cost and accessibility barriers associated with air travel on the continent.
In its editorial note, Managing Editor Kojo Bentum-Williams frames the issue as a confident opening chapter for 2026, reflecting both resilience and optimism in Africa’s tourism outlook despite ongoing global uncertainties. He reaffirms VoyagesAfriq’s commitment to going beyond headlines to provide credible, contextual and impactful journalism that connects stakeholders across the tourism value chain.
As global industry players gather at FITUR and other major tourism events early in the year, the January 2026 edition of VoyagesAfriq arrives as a timely reference point—documenting change, amplifying African perspectives and setting the agenda for conversations around sustainability, inclusion and innovation. With its expansive coverage and authoritative voice, the magazine once again reinforces its position as a leading platform shaping tourism discourse in Africa and beyond.
