The AFRO EUFORICO International Conferences form a major component of the AFRO EUFORICO Series. 

The upcoming inaugural AFRO EUFORICO International Conference (AE Abuja 2026), will focus on the interconnection between tourism, urban transformation, social exchange and postcolonial identity within the West African context.

Abuja serves as a compelling case study due to its unique status as a planned postcolonial and contemporary capital city, symbolising modernity, national identity, and developmental aspiration, yet now facing the transformative pressures of "touristification", cultural commodification, and global visibility.

The conference will bring together industry stakeholders, government officials, academics, policymakers, entrepreneurs, professionals, and creative industry leaders to deeply explore the concept of touristification; “which refers to the complex processes of territorial transformation brought about by tourism on a determined geographical space and the resulting changes in the landscape, the environment, social, cultural, economic and power dynamics ".

It would be supported by the relevant Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies in tourism and its related complex activities.

RATIONALE BEHIND THE CONFERENCE

As one of Africa’s youngest capital cities, Abuja was designed to embody national unity, modern planning, and progress. However, in recent years, the city has evolved into a dynamic site of touristification, with growing investments in luxury hospitality, entertainment, heritage tourism, and real estate targeting both domestic and international markets.

While this transformation offers significant economic and aesthetic gains, it also raises important questions:

  1. How is touristification redefining Abuja’s social fabric and urban identity?
  2. What are the implications for cultural heritage, spatial justice, and local participation?
  3. And how can Abuja become a model for sustainable, inclusive, and culturally grounded urban tourism in West Africa?

Guided by key theoretical frameworks; Postcolonial Theory, Cultural Imperialism, Marketing Myopia, and Social Exchange Theory, the conference interrogates how global tourism forces interact with local realities, examining the tensions between image-making, cultural representation, governance, and lived experience.

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES
  1. To analyse Abuja’s evolution as a postcolonial and contemporary African city shaped by tourism, globalisation, and urban policy.
  2. To evaluate the effects of touristification on local communities, heritage spaces, and social structures.
  3. To propose frameworks for sustainable urban tourism that align with community welfare and cultural authenticity.
  4. To foster Afro-European dialogue on inclusive and decolonized approaches to city development.
SUB-THEMES FOR THE CONFERENCE
  1. Marketing Myopia and the Future of Tourism in Nigeria
  2. Cultural Imperialism and the Globalisation of Cultural Spaces
  3. Postcolonial Theory and the Politics of Urban Transformation
  4. Social Exchange Theory and Community Participation in Tourism
  5. The Sustainability of the Creative Economy, Sports and Heritage Festivals
  6. The International Diplomacy of Tourism: Building Afro-European Bridges
  7. Tourism Infrastructure Development, Tourism Financing and Tourism Investment
EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE CONFERENCE
  1. A communiqué on Abuja’s role as a model for postcolonial urban development through tourism.
  2. Policy recommendations for sustainable and inclusive tourism in Abuja and other West African urban centres.
  3. Strengthened academic, trade and diplomatic networks between participating organisations.
  4. Official Launch of the AFRO EUFORICO SERIES