Abuja – The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has successfully revived the Conseil Patronal Interprofessionnel du Tourisme (COPITOUR), the umbrella body for private sector tourism operators in West Africa, in a move aimed at strengthening regional collaboration and repositioning the organisation as the leading voice of the tourism private sector in the ECOWAS sub-region.
The breakthrough came during a one-day Consultative Meeting on the ECOWAS Framework for the Recognition and Accreditation of Regional Business Associations, hosted by FTAN in Abuja and convened by the Directorate of Private Sector and Industry of the ECOWAS Commission.
The meeting, supported through the Trade in Services Programme, West Africa, brought together tourism stakeholders, development partners and regional institutions, including the ECOWAS Commission, the European Union (EU) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
At the meeting, the ECOWAS Commission, the EU and GIZ reaffirmed their commitment to supporting COPITOUR’s revival and urged the regional tourism body to build stronger institutions, deepen partnerships and promote investments capable of accelerating tourism-led economic growth across West Africa.
Speaking at the event, FTAN President, Dr. Aliyu Ajayi Badaki, described the meeting as a historic milestone in regional tourism cooperation, saying the federation remains committed to working closely with COPITOUR to reposition it as the foremost platform for the organised private tourism sector in West Africa.
According to him, a revitalised COPITOUR will create fresh opportunities for regional investment, policy alignment, knowledge exchange and stronger public-private sector collaboration.
“Tourism remains one of the strongest instruments for economic diversification, job creation, cultural exchange and regional integration. Together, we can unlock its enormous potential for the benefit of our region,” Badaki said.
He also commended the ECOWAS Commission for creating a platform that strengthens collaboration between regional business associations and governments, urging participants to focus on practical outcomes that would reinforce institutions and position tourism as a major driver of sustainable development.
COPITOUR President, Mr. Racine Sy, described the gathering as a “new dawn” for the organisation, thanking the ECOWAS Commission, GIZ and member associations for their unwavering support.
He said the revival would enable COPITOUR to effectively champion policy advocacy, regional cooperation and sustainable tourism development while serving as the collective voice of the organised tourism private sector within ECOWAS.
Representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and GIZ Nigeria stressed that tourism remains a strategic sector for regional integration, economic competitiveness and cultural exchange.
They noted that a stronger COPITOUR would play a critical role in mobilising industry stakeholders, promoting policy reforms, enhancing public-private dialogue and supporting the implementation of the ECOTOUR framework across ECOWAS member states.
The meeting ended with renewed commitments by regional stakeholders to work together in transforming West Africa into a more competitive and integrated tourism destination through stronger institutional partnerships and private sector leadership.
2026-07-29