VoyagesAfriq, Africa’s leading travel and tourism magazine, has released its 40th edition, the August 2026 issue, bringing together in-depth reporting, exclusive interviews and analysis of some of the most significant developments shaping Africa’s tourism, aviation, hospitality and business events sectors.
The milestone print edition places Seychelles’ Golden Jubilee at the heart of its editorial focus, taking readers beyond the destination’s famous beaches to explore how the island nation has used tourism to support national development while preserving its culture, heritage and identity.
The magazine’s special feature, “Seychelles at 50: Beyond the Postcard,” follows VoyagesAfriq’s 10-day journey across the archipelago during the country’s 50th independence celebrations and the 69th UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) meeting. The special focus examines Seychelles’ gastronomy, culture, sustainability, hospitality and growing ambitions in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector.
The edition captures key moments from the Golden Jubilee celebrations, including the Independence Day festivities, the Local Food Fest, a bicycle journey through La Digue and the gathering of African tourism leaders for CAF 69. The magazine also highlights Ghana’s successful bid to host the 70th UN Tourism Commission for Africa in 2027, as well as Sierra Leone’s preparations to host the third UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism.
Tourism’s future must be built around people
A major theme running through the new edition is the importance of human capital to Africa’s tourism ambitions.
In a leading feature, UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais calls on African governments and tourism stakeholders to prioritise skills development, digital and artificial intelligence readiness and women’s empowerment.
Speaking during the High-Level Dialogue at CAF 69 in Mahé, Al Nuwais stressed that tourism must become a career of choice for young Africans and urged governments and industry players to develop a workforce equipped for the sector’s changing demands. The magazine reports her three priorities as skills that match real jobs, digital and AI readiness, and changing perceptions of tourism careers.
The edition also carries the perspective of Seychelles’ Minister of Tourism and Culture, Amanda Bernstein, who argues that Africa’s tourism competitiveness will ultimately depend not only on destinations and infrastructure, but on the quality, skills and professionalism of its workforce. Her contribution examines Seychelles’ first Tourism Human Resource Development Strategy for 2026–2029 and its focus on workforce planning, education and training, localisation, leadership development and strategic partnerships.
Ghana takes centre stage
For Ghana’s tourism industry, the new edition carries an important development: the country’s selection to host the 70th UN Tourism Commission for Africa in 2027.
The magazine reports that Ghana secured the hosting rights following a successful vote by UN Tourism member states at CAF 69 in Seychelles. The meeting will coincide with Ghana’s 70th Independence Anniversary, creating an opportunity to bring together tourism ministers, policymakers, investors, creatives and industry stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.
The edition also examines Ghana’s wider efforts to strengthen its tourism competitiveness, including the launch of an e-visa platform and the removal of visa fees for African travellers.
From tourism investment to aviation and MICE
Beyond its Seychelles focus, Issue 40 explores the broader transformation taking place across Africa’s tourism industry.
The magazine features an in-depth look at Angola’s emergence as a tourism investment destination, following praise from the UN Tourism Secretary-General for the country’s reform agenda and efforts to position tourism as a driver of economic growth and diversification. It also examines developments in aviation, business events, luxury tourism, destination marketing and intra-African travel.
The edition further looks at Africa’s growing MICE ambitions, including Seychelles’ efforts to position itself beyond leisure tourism and strengthen its business events offering. It also covers developments in Rwanda, South Africa, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Cameroon.
Stories of African tourism leadership
Among the edition’s major human-interest features is the story of Dr. Mati Martha Nyazema, founder of Mbano Manor Hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
The feature, titled “From Corporate Boardrooms to Luxury Hospitality: How Dr. Mati Nyazema built one of Zimbabwe’s most remarkable tourism success stories,” traces her journey from journalism and destination marketing through aviation and international hospitality to entrepreneurship. Her story reflects the resilience, risk-taking and determination increasingly shaping African tourism leadership.
The magazine also features an exclusive interview with Vesna Rakić, the newly appointed CEO of the re-established Seychelles Tourism Board, who shares her vision for the destination’s next 50 years. Rakić says her goal is to leave Seychelles’ tourism industry and the country stronger, with lasting structures that place communities at the centre of tourism development.
A comprehensive view of Africa’s tourism landscape
Issue 40 also covers Africa’s evolving aviation landscape, gastronomy and wine tourism, golf tourism, sustainable luxury, visa-free travel, tourism investment and business events. Among the stories featured are Togo’s decision to grant visa-free entry to African passport holders, Airlink’s new Cape Town–Mauritius route, Ethiopian Airlines’ scheduled flights to Mauritius, Air Europa’s arrival in Johannesburg, ASKY’s fleet expansion, Emirates’ additional weekly flights to Ghana and developments around AviaDev Africa.
The gastronomy and wine tourism section examines how destinations are using food, wine and culinary heritage to create distinctive tourism experiences, including Seychelles’ use of local cuisine as a national tourism showcase and the growing profile of South Africa’s Cape Winelands.
And as has been the tradition, the latest outing also features opinion pieces by various experts on diverse range of industry-related subjects.
The new edition therefore arrives at a defining moment for African tourism, bringing together stories of destinations, people, investment, connectivity and innovation while placing a strong emphasis on the continent’s human capital.
As the magazine notes in its editorial, the latest issue is intended to provide “deeper insights, exclusive interviews and fresh perspectives” on the developments shaping Africa’s tourism industry.
VoyagesAfriq Issue 40 ultimately presents a continent whose tourism story is increasingly being defined not simply by its attractions, but by its people, culture, ambition, innovation and ability to build a more sustainable and inclusive future.
