Africa's tourism sector, long seen as underperforming relative to its potential, will take centre stage at the Africa Legacy Summit set for May 15th and 16th, 2026, at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos. The event marks the hotel's 50th anniversary and aims to pivot the conversation from potential to practical collaboration. Themed "African Hospitality: Rich with Possibility, Ready for Afro Collaboration", the summit will bring together ministers, investors, hospitality leaders, young professionals and students from across Africa and the Caribbean. Keynote speakers include Ambassador Wallace Williams and Pan Africanist Professor Patrick Lumumba. Despite Africa's natural and cultural wealth, the continent accounts for a small fraction of global tourist arrivals, held back by infrastructure deficits, inconsistent visa policies and weak regional coordination. The summit will prioritise actionable strategies on investment, hospitality standards and integration into global travel networks. Kenya is cited as a model, having built a robust tourism economy through conservation, training and branding. Lagos, though not a traditional tourism hub, is gaining traction through its music, film, fashion and food. Dr. Iyadunni Gbadebo, Director of Sales & Marketing at Eko Hotels and Suites, stated, "Africa appears ready to extend one" — a welcome, and a challenge.
Holding a high-profile tourism summit in Lagos signals a bet on Nigeria's cultural momentum as a draw beyond oil. Eko Hotels and Suites, celebrating 50 years, is leveraging its legacy to position African hospitality as competitive, not just welcoming. If past events are any guide, such summits generate speeches more reliably than structural change. Without follow-through on visa integration and infrastructure, even the best rhetoric won't move tourist numbers.
