African Tourism Board and Nigeria Advance Safe African Travel
Johannesburg, South Africa — The African Tourism Board (ATB) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening African unity and ensuring that the continent remains a welcoming destination for both visitors and citizens, following high-level discussions between ATB Executive Chairman Simphiwe Cuthbert Ncube and the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to South Africa.
The meeting comes amid renewed concern over incidents of violence and anti-migrant sentiment in parts of South Africa, which have drawn criticism from governments, civil society, and regional organizations. While acknowledging the economic and social pressures facing many African countries—including unemployment, irregular migration, and pressures on public services—the African Tourism Board emphasized that such challenges should never justify xenophobia or violence against fellow Africans.
The Board stressed that Africa’s vision of regional integration, tourism growth, and economic cooperation depends on ensuring that every African can travel, invest, and conduct business in safety and dignity across the continent.
“Africa cannot market itself as one destination while Africans feel unsafe crossing African borders. The future of the continent depends on our collective ability to manage challenges through dialogue, partnership and mutual respect. Our overarching responsibility is to ensure that African unity remains stronger than division.”
— Simphiwe Cuthbert Ncube, Executive Chairman, African Tourism Board
Strategic Partnership with Nigeria
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The consultation between the African Tourism Board and the Nigerian diplomatic mission highlighted Nigeria’s longstanding leadership in advancing African integration, economic development, and cultural diplomacy. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in tourism, investment, youth entrepreneurship, and cross-border collaboration while addressing concerns relating to the safety and welfare of African nationals living and working across the continent.
The meeting also acknowledged Nigeria’s historic contribution to Africa’s liberation movements and its continued influence across trade, tourism, finance, and the creative economy. Both parties agreed that sustainable solutions require stronger community engagement, improved social cohesion initiatives, and coordinated public-private partnerships rather than reactive responses after incidents occur.
The African Tourism Board said the partnership will support initiatives that promote responsible tourism, intercultural understanding, destination marketing, community dialogue, youth entrepreneurship, and peaceful coexistence among African communities. The organizations also expressed support for continued engagement through continental forums dedicated to social cohesion and safe mobility.
Tourism and Integration Go Hand in Hand
The African Tourism Board noted that the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the broader African Union Agenda 2063 depends not only on trade liberalization but also on creating an environment where Africans can move, invest, and travel with confidence.
According to the organization, tourism remains one of Africa’s most powerful tools for promoting economic inclusion, job creation, cultural exchange, and regional stability. Ensuring the safety of visitors, entrepreneurs, investors, and residents alike is therefore essential to maintaining Africa’s competitiveness as a global destination.
The Board called on governments, community leaders, business organizations, and civil society to work together to address the root causes of social tensions through economic opportunity, education, dialogue, and stronger cross-border cooperation.
International Voices Echo Similar Calls
The African Tourism Board’s position reflects principles consistently advanced by leading international organizations that promote inclusion, human dignity, and regional cooperation.
The African Union Commission has repeatedly emphasized that African integration must be built on solidarity, the free movement of people, and respect for the rights and dignity of all Africans as envisioned under Agenda 2063.
Similarly, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has consistently maintained that migrants should be treated with dignity and that governments, communities, and international partners must work together to combat xenophobia while promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration.
The United Nations has likewise called on member states to reject discrimination, violence, and intolerance based on nationality or origin, emphasizing that inclusive societies are fundamental to sustainable development, peaceful coexistence, and long-term prosperity.
Absence of a UN Tourism Position
Notably, despite tourism being central to Africa’s integration agenda and the broader conversation surrounding safe mobility across the continent, UN Tourism has not issued a public statement specifically addressing the latest concerns over anti-migrant tensions in South Africa or their potential implications for intra-African tourism and regional travel.
The absence of a public position from the United Nations’ specialized tourism agency has been observed by tourism stakeholders, particularly at a time when tourism is increasingly recognized as a catalyst for peace, intercultural dialogue, economic opportunity, and regional integration.
The African Tourism Board believes that international tourism institutions have an important role in encouraging destinations to uphold the principles of safety, inclusion, and respect for all travelers. In the absence of a specific public intervention from UN Tourism on this matter, the Board said regional institutions must continue leading the conversation and working collaboratively with governments to strengthen social cohesion and safeguard Africa’s vision of seamless travel across the continent.
African Tourism Board Calls for Collective Leadership
The African Tourism Board emphasized that addressing xenophobia and strengthening social cohesion are shared continental responsibilities that require coordinated leadership from governments, regional organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
The Board reaffirmed its commitment to working with Nigeria and other African partners to advance practical solutions that promote tourism development, investment, community resilience, and peaceful coexistence.
“As Africa continues its journey toward deeper economic integration and shared prosperity, tourism can only flourish where unity, safety, and mutual respect are protected,” the Board said. “The African Tourism Board remains committed to working with governments, regional institutions, diplomatic missions, and international partners to strengthen these values for the benefit of all Africans.”
With tourism increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of economic growth and continental integration, the African Tourism Board said it will continue advocating for policies and partnerships that reinforce Africa’s vision as One Destination—United, Secure, Inclusive, and Open to All.
The Board concluded that the future success of African tourism will ultimately depend not only on marketing the continent to the world, but also on ensuring that Africans themselves can travel freely, safely, and with dignity throughout their own continent.
