In a decisive move to shatter the economic barriers limiting the continent’s potential, the Africa-International Tourism and Economic Council (AITEC World) has issued a rallying cry for borderless integration.
During a high-profile press conference in Cotonou, Benin, on July 23, 2026, the organization outlined a bold strategy to transform tourism into the primary
engine for Africa’s sustainable development, investment, and trade.
AITEC World announced two major global events designed to catalyze this vision: the 3rd Official Global Launch at World Travel Market (WTM) in London this November, followed by the 2nd Africa Tourism Dialogue in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
These gatherings will serve as the launchpad for continent-wide movement to dismantle the bureaucratic hurdles stifling African prosperity.
“Today, we are not gathered simply to announce two events. We are here to launch a movement—a movement for a better-connected Africa, where Africans travel more freely, investors move with greater ease, and businesses trade without unnecessary barriers,” declared Ambassador Dine Bouraima, the President of AITEC World.
His keynote address struck at the heart of a persistent paradox: despite the African Continental Free Trade Area
(AfCFTA) creating the world’s largest free trade zone, mobility remains heavily restricted.
The economic stakes are massive. With the Travel and Tourism sector projected to contribute over $241 billion to the continent’s economy in 2026 and support more than 31 million jobs, the argument for open borders is overwhelmingly financial. Yet, the reality for many African citizens is one of friction.
Highlighting the frustration shared by millions, Amb. Bouraima invoked the words of industrialist Aliko Dangote, who noted the absurdity of needing 38 visas to travel across the continent—a hurdle that severely deters investment.
“How can we speak of economic integration when travelling between two African countries is sometimes more difficult than travelling to another continent?” Bouraima challenged.
To answer this, AITEC World has set an ambitious target: by 2031, at least 27 African nations will adopt fully visa-free policies for all African citizens.
The organization praised early adopters like Benin, Rwanda, Ghana, and Kenya, while urging other states to follow the
recent ECOWAS initiative to lower air transport costs.
The message from AITEC World is clear: tourism is not merely an end in itself, but a gateway to a unified continent.
By pushing for visa-free travel and dismantling trade barriers, the council aims to build an Africa where mobility fuels investment, creates jobs, and ultimately links Africa to the world—and the world to Africa.
