West Africa Tourism

𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘝𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴.

AeroWest 2026 brought together influential voices shaping Africa’s aviation, tourism and economic landscape.

We were honoured to have 𝗛. 𝗘. 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗢𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗻 𝗢𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗼, 𝗚𝗖𝗙𝗥, 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮, whose administration made notable contributions to tourism and aviation, including the National Tourism Development Master Plan and key aviation reforms such as the passage of the Civil Aviation Act of 2006 and the initiation of the total radar coverage to overhaul safety. At AeroWest 2026, he called for sustainable tourism, greater collaboration and the preservation of Africa’s heritage, describing the summit as “a call to action, a new beginning, not an end.”

𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿. 𝗕𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘂-𝗛𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘆𝗶𝗻, Secretary to the Lagos State Government, also shared a powerful reminder:
“Neither airports, airlines, nor governments can drive tourism alone. Unlocking its full potential requires a collective effort uniting finance, technology, hospitality, the creative sector, and the community.”

The conference also welcomed 𝗗𝗿. 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝗜𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗿; Deputy Governor Central Bank of Nigeria(𝗖𝗕𝗡) (represented by Dr. Okechukwu Umeano), 𝗛. 𝗘. 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱; High Commissioner of Barbados to Ghana and Nigeria, 𝗛. 𝗘. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗮 𝗡𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗮-𝗡𝗵𝘇𝗼𝗵𝗼; Secretary of State Ministry of Information, Press, Culture and Tourism Equatorial Tourism, Amb. Christopher Onanuga; Chairman Liberia National Tourist Board and Presidential Special Envoy on Tourism, Amb. Charles Omini; International Human Rights Protection Service Special Envoy to West Africa, Mrs Fatmata Carew; Chief Executive Officer Sierra Leone National Tourist Board, Professor Obiora Okonkwo Chairman and CEO United Nigeria Airline and a host of other high level industry professionals.

Day 1 of the Aerowest 2026 Summit kicked off with powerful conversations in Lagos! ✈️🌍
Proudly co-convened by the West Africa Tourism Organisation (WATO) alongside Jet Afrique Aviation Services, Day 1 set the tone for meaningful conversations around transforming air connectivity and unlocking the potential of West and Central Africa.

A major highlight was WATO CEO, olawright, taking the stage to deliver a welcome address and moderate a high-level panel on creating destination demand, bringing together, CEOs, and investors for conversations focused on practical solutions and actionable opportunities.

Beyond the conversations, the WATO booth was also set up, creating a space to connect, engage and showcase WATO’s work in advancing tourism and aviation across the region.
But Day 1 was only the beginning.

For West Africa, sustainable and responsible tourism is not just an environmental conversation. It is an economic one and a cultural one.

This is a region rich in biodiversity, living heritage, and extraordinary landscapes.

The choices made now by governments, by tourism operators, by travellers, and by organisations like WATO, will determine whether West Africa’s tourism growth lifts communities or displaces them. Whether it protects ecosystems or depletes them. Whether it tells Africa’s story on Africa’s terms or reduces it to a backdrop for someone else’s adventure.

Sustainable and responsible tourism is how West Africa grows without losing itself.

That is why it matters here more than anywhere.

Sustainable tourism is one of the most used phrases in the travel industry today.
It is also one of the most misunderstood.

It is not simply about choosing a hotel with a recycling bin. It is not a carbon offset purchased at checkout. Sustainable tourism is a fundamental shift in how we think about travel, who it benefits, what it costs the environment, and whether the communities at the centre of it are better or worse off because of it.

At its core, sustainable tourism asks one question: can this place absorb the impact of visitors without losing what made it worth visiting in the first place?

When the answer is yes and when local communities, ecosystems, and cultural heritage are actively protected in the process , that is sustainable tourism working as it should.

West Africa is not waiting to adopt this model. In many ways, it has always lived it.

As we venture to new places, we have the responsibility to protect our planet and respect local cultures. Sustainable tourism isn’t just a trend; it’s a necessity. By supporting local businesses, reducing our carbon footprint, and practicing responsible travel habits, we can help preserve the beauty of our world for future travelers.

This year, let’s prioritize eco-friendly choices in our travels, from choosing sustainable accommodations to reducing plastic usage. Together, we can make a difference.

What sustainable practices do you incorporate in your travels? Share below 👇

Meet the "Backbone of the Sahara" one of the longest, heaviest, and most legendary trains in the world.

Operating since 1963, this iconic Mauritania Railway train stretches up to an incredible 3 kilometers (nearly 2 miles) in length. With over 200 carriages powered by 3 to 4 massive locomotives, it carries 17,000 tons of iron ore across 704 km of barren desert from the mining town of Zouérat to the coastal port of Nouadhibou.

An industrial giant, a thrilling adventure, and a vital lifeline through the endless desert sands.

Nouadhibou, Mauritania's major commercial hub, is home to one of the world's most unique maritime graveyards. Over the decades, more than 300 abandoned vessels from trawlers to naval cruisers were left to slowly dissolve, transforming the coastline into a hauntingly beautiful landscape.

The future of tourism isn’t being handed to us.
It’s being built by the people bold enough to show up.

AWFT 2026 | Paris | October 29–30

If sustainable tourism, African representation, and collective industry action matter to you, this is your room.

🔗 https://ypl.me/PSt

Côte d'Ivoire: Masques sacrés, défilés de rue et courses sur lagune

Les festivals de Côte d'Ivoire sont une célébration vibrante de la tradition, de la communauté et de l'aventure. Dans l'ouest, le festival Wehede met à l'honneur l'héritage du peuple Wè à travers des danses masquées sacrées et des rituels ancestraux. Le Carnaval de Bouaké, très animé, investit les rues avec ses défilés colorés, sa musique et sa culture locale, tandis que le festival L'Ile à Adiaké captive les spectateurs grâce à des courses de pirogues palpitantes sur la lagune, illustrant ainsi les riches traditions côtières du pays.

Des cérémonies sacrées aux fêtes de rue pleines d'énergie en passant par des courses nautiques passionnantes, la Côte d'Ivoire offre des expériences culturelles inoubliables.