The virtual workshop will explore how improved air links, lower aviation costs and easier travel procedures can boost tourism across the continent.
UN Tourism and the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) will convene a joint virtual workshop on October 28–29, 2026, to examine how improved air connectivity and travel facilitation can drive tourism growth across Africa.
Held under the theme “Connecting Africa: Turning Air Connectivity and Travel Facilitation into Tourism Growth,” the workshop will bring together senior government officials, technical experts and aviation and tourism industry stakeholders to discuss practical solutions to barriers limiting travel and tourism development across the continent.
The meeting follows the conclusions and recommendations of the 69th UN Tourism Commission for Africa (CAF), held on July 3, 2026. It will focus on the relationship between air route connectivity, aviation costs and taxes, visa facilitation and the growth of intra-African tourism.
Discussions are expected to draw on evidence from Africa’s various sub-regions, with participants examining approaches to strengthening air links and making travel within the continent more accessible and efficient.
Participants will include representatives from ministries responsible for tourism, civil aviation, transport and immigration, as well as regional economic communities, airlines, airports and international industry partners.
UN Tourism has invited its member states and other official recipients to nominate technical representatives working in tourism, aviation, transport, infrastructure, visa and immigration matters, and regional integration to participate in the continental exchange.
The workshop comes amid ongoing efforts to strengthen regional integration and expand tourism opportunities within Africa. Better air connectivity and streamlined travel procedures are widely recognized as important factors in improving access to destinations, facilitating business and leisure travel, and supporting tourism-related economic activity.
The two-day workshop will be held virtually on October 28 and 29, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central European Time (CET), equivalent to noon to 2 p.m. East Africa Time (EAT).
Through the joint initiative, UN Tourism and AFRAA aim to advance discussions on practical measures that can help translate improved connectivity and travel facilitation into tangible tourism growth across Africa.
