Stakeholders Demand Seamless Funding Access to Boost Tourism, Creativity Development

Stakeholders at the inaugural Africa Tourism and Creative Economy Expo (AFTCREE) 2025 have urged African governments to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks and guarantee seamless access to funding dedicated to tourism and creative economy development.

The call was contained in a communique issued on November 29 at the end of the three-day continental gathering in Abuja, jointly signed by the Chairman of the Communique Drafting Committee, Mr. Amos Sakaba, and the Secretary, Uwemedimo Ukpong.

The first AFTCREE, organised by Afrocultour in partnership with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, drew participants from 17 African countries and 15 Nigerian states, as well as diplomats, investors, policymakers, creative practitioners, and development partners.

Delegates stressed the need for deliberate policy reforms, tax incentives, and investor-friendly regulations to attract both domestic and international capital into the sectors.

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“African governments should prioritise tourism and the creative sectors by mainstreaming them into their respective economies for the purpose of raising Africa’s share of global trade from less than 3% to 10% by 2030.”

Additionally, African governments should aim to increase their share of global tourism revenue from 5% to at least 20% by 2030, as this could significantly reduce poverty, create jobs, and advance the UN Sustainable Development Agenda.

“Governments across Africa should emulate Nigeria’s model by consolidating relevant agencies within the tourism, arts, culture, and creative economy sectors under a single coordinating structure for enhanced collaboration, efficiency, and productivity.

“African countries should institutionalise robust legal and regulatory systems that support the growth, protection, and sustainability of tourism and creative industries,” participants said.

The communique also recommended that AFTCREE be established as an annual continental platform, using the innovative “CultourMetre” index to track, measure, evaluate, and rank each country’s yearly progress toward the 2030 targets.

Held under the theme “Optimising Africa’s Comparative and Competitive Advantage for Accelerated Trade and Economic Growth”, the expo highlighted Africa’s vast cultural heritage, creative talent, and tourism assets as underutilised engines for sustainable economic transformation.

The event facilitated high-level networking, showcased cutting-edge innovations, fostered strategic partnerships, and deepened regional integration among stakeholders committed to elevating Africa’s share of global services trade through creativity and tourism.

With poverty reduction, massive job creation, and achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in sight, participants described the expo as a turning point in repositioning Africa as a global powerhouse in tourism, arts, culture, and the creative economy.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is AFTCREE?

The Africa Tourism and Creative Economy Expo (AFTCREE) is an annual continental platform dedicated to advancing tourism, arts, culture, and the creative economy across Africa through policy dialogue, innovation showcases, and investment matchmaking.

When and where was the maiden AFTCREE held?

The inaugural edition took place in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2025. Afroculture organised it in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy.

What were the main recommendations from AFTCREE 2025?

The main recommendations from AFTCREE 2025 included ensuring seamless access to sector-specific funding, providing policy incentives for investors, consolidating agencies in line with this, including adopting Nigeria’s model, strengthening legal frameworks, and establishing AFTCREE as an annual event featuring a performance ranking through the CultourMetre.

What are Africa’s 2030 targets for tourism and trade as stated at AFTCREE?

Raise Africa’s share of global trade from under 3% to 10%, and increase its share of international tourism revenue from 5% to at least 20% by 2030.

Who attended the expo?

Participants came from 17 African countries and 15 Nigerian states, including diplomats, investors, policymakers, creative industry leaders, development partners, and state governments. 1.1s