One of the biggest obstacles to the growth of business events in West Africa may finally be coming under serious scrutiny.
At the 69th Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held at the newly inaugurated President Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Lungi, Sierra Leone, regional leaders renewed their commitment to reducing the cost of air travel – a move that could significantly strengthen West Africa’s competitiveness as a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) destination.
The Summit commended Côte d’Ivoire as the first and, so far, only ECOWAS Member State to fully implement the bloc’s landmark aviation reforms, while urging all other Member States to accelerate implementation of measures designed to reduce taxes on air transport and cut passenger service and security charges.
For the region’s business events industry, the implications could be profound.
The Cost Barrier to Business Events
For years, conference organisers have identified air connectivity and the high cost of intra-African travel as two of the biggest constraints to hosting regional and international meetings in West Africa.
Despite the region’s strategic economic importance and a market of more than 400 million people, travel between neighbouring capitals often remains expensive, limiting delegate participation and increasing event costs.
Studies by ECOWAS, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) consistently rank West Africa among the world’s most expensive regions for air travel. Multiple taxes, airport charges and operational fees continue to inflate ticket prices, making short regional journeys disproportionately costly.
A Landmark Regional Reform
The reforms originate from the Supplementary Act on Aviation Charges, Taxes and Fees adopted by ECOWAS Heads of State in Abuja in December 2024.
The regional framework requires Member States to remove selected aviation taxes and reduce passenger service and aviation security charges by 25 per cent. Although implementation officially began on 1 January 2026, progress has varied across the region.
At the Lungi Summit, Heads of State applauded Côte d’Ivoire for fully implementing the reforms while calling on other Member States to expedite legislative amendments and administrative processes needed to comply.
Industry estimates suggest the reforms could reduce ticket prices by up to 40 per cent on some regional routes, potentially reshaping business travel across West Africa.
Why MICE Should Pay Attention
Affordable air access remains one of the strongest determinants of destination competitiveness. A convention centre, however modern, cannot realise its full potential if delegates struggle to reach it or face prohibitively expensive airfares.
Lower ticket prices would not only encourage greater attendance at conferences and exhibitions but could also stimulate regional association meetings, corporate events, government summits and incentive travel programmes.
The timing is particularly significant as several West African destinations continue investing heavily in MICE infrastructure.
The Summit itself provided a fitting example. Sierra Leone hosted regional leaders at the newly commissioned President Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Lungi, demonstrating the country’s ambition to position itself more prominently within Africa’s meetings industry.
Yet infrastructure alone is not enough. Competitive air access is equally essential if destinations are to convert investment in convention facilities into sustained event business.
Towards a More Connected Region
Beyond lowering fares, ECOWAS is strengthening the institutional framework needed to support aviation growth.
The Authority welcomed the establishment of the ECOWAS Regional Air Transport Economic Oversight Committee, which will monitor implementation of the reforms and engage Member States to ensure compliance.
Leaders also called on the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), the African Development Bank, Afreximbank and other development finance institutions to support airport infrastructure and aviation service improvements in countries implementing the reforms.
Combined with initiatives promoting aircraft leasing, maintenance cooperation and harmonised aviation standards, the reforms signal a broader strategy to improve regional connectivity.
An Opportunity for Destination Competitiveness
For destinations seeking to grow their share of Africa’s business events market, affordable air travel is no longer simply an aviation issue. It is a destination competitiveness issue. Convention bureaux, tourism authorities, airlines and hospitality providers all stand to benefit from stronger regional connectivity and increased passenger volumes.
The challenge now lies in implementation. While Côte d’Ivoire has demonstrated that reform is possible, the success of the ECOWAS initiative will ultimately depend on whether other Member States follow through on their commitments.
If they do, the benefits will extend far beyond cheaper airline tickets. For West Africa’s MICE industry, lower airfares could unlock larger conferences, stronger regional participation, greater investment and a more competitive position within Africa’s rapidly evolving business events landscape.
As the region continues investing in convention centres and hospitality infrastructure, making it easier and more affordable to reach those venues may prove to be the most important investment of all.
