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Africa’s convention centres and hotels cannot fulfil their potential while delegates face costly, complicated journeys across the continent.
Mombasa summit flags access problem
Industry representatives at the Africa Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) Summit in Mombasa said expensive air travel, restrictive visa processes and taxes are holding back Africa’s bid to secure a larger share of the global business-events market.
DGBN has also reported on PrideInn chief urges visa-free Africa to unlock business events growth.
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The concern is not a lack of venues alone. Delegates said destinations may have the hotels, meeting space and hospitality capacity to host major gatherings, but organisers also weigh whether participants can reach a city affordably and without difficult connections.
Stakeholders called for simpler visa requirements, stronger direct links between African cities and better coordination in bidding for international conferences. For Mombasa and similar destinations, winning more events could support hotels, restaurants, transport firms and small businesses throughout the visitor economy.
Taxes compound a connectivity gap
The summit’s warning reflects a wider aviation challenge. The African Airlines Association says taxes, fees and charges account for an estimated 35% to 40% of African ticket prices, compared with roughly 20% globally. Its earlier study found that such costs can make up more than 35% of the full fare and more than half of the cheapest base fares.
For more context, read DGBN’s coverage of Tanzania Removes Special Visa Clearance Requirement for Nigerian Travellers.
The consequences are significant for business tourism. A conference organiser choosing between destinations will factor in total delegate costs, including fares, entry clearance, travel time and the availability of reliable regional connections. High costs can therefore divert events — and their spending — away from African cities even when local facilities are competitive.
African carriers also operate with high costs and thin margins. IATA has said airlines on the continent face the highest unit costs globally, while visa restrictions continue to limit intra-African travel. That combination makes it harder to build frequent, lower-cost routes that would serve conference travellers as well as traders, students and families.
Integration promises need delivery
The African Union’s Single African Air Transport Market was created to liberalise aviation and expand links within the continent. Yet implementation remains uneven, leaving many travellers reliant on indirect routings or expensive fares.
There are signs of policy movement. In West Africa, ECOWAS has pursued the removal of certain airfare taxes to improve affordability and regional integration. But aviation industry leaders argue that broader action is needed: lower charges, more open market access, easier movement of people and investment in airport and air-navigation systems.
Why this matters
For Black communities across Africa and the diaspora, business tourism is more than corporate travel. Major events create contracts for local caterers, creatives, guides, logistics firms and technology providers; they also offer a platform for African institutions, entrepreneurs and cultural voices.
Related DGBN reporting includes Arabian Travel Market 2026 puts AI at the heart of tourism’s next chapter.
Africa’s business tourism ambitions will not be secured by buildings alone. The decisive test is whether Africans and international delegates can move between the continent’s cities at a cost and convenience that makes Africa a first choice rather than a costly alternative.