Travel

For international travellers, a passport is more than an identity document—it is a key that determines how freely its holder can move around the world. The latest Henley Passport Index 2026, regarded as one of the most authoritative measures of global travel freedom, ranks passports according to the number of destinations their holders can enter without obtaining a visa in …

For more than three decades, Reiseservice Sacco has helped thousands of people travel between Europe and Africa, earning a reputation built on trust, expertise and personal service. But how has the company stayed successful in an era of online booking platforms, volatile airfares and constant changes in the aviation industry? In this exclusive interview with The African Courier, founder Sandro …

Nigeria has finally resolved a technical fault that caused some of its electronic passports to fail verification at foreign border checkpoints The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced that all of the country’s digital certificates used to verify the authenticity of e-passports have been successfully uploaded to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Public Key Directory (ICAO PKD). The process was …

Ghana has launched a new electronic visa regime aimed at modernising travel procedures, strengthening border security and promoting easier access to the country, in a move being described as a major step in its digital transformation agenda. Launching the new system in Accra on 25 May, President John Dramani Mahama confirmed that Ghana’s previous visa-on-arrival arrangement for African passport holders …

Ghana’s Ministry of Transport issued a formal press statement on 28 April 2026, signed by Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe, inviting “potential strategic partners” to participate in building a new national airline. The government has established a dedicated task force to oversee a structured, three-round selection process, at the end of which a single qualified partner will be chosen. Interested …

From 10 April, the EU’s Entry/Exit System becomes fully operational across 29 European countries. Every non-EU national will now have their biometric data registered at the border instead of receiving an ink stamp. Here’s what you should know about the new system For decades, the ink stamp in a passport was the universal marker of arrival in Europe. A border …

With Angola as official partner country, a continent-wide showcase at the world’s largest travel trade fair signals a new era of African tourism confidence. Femi Awoniyi reports When the doors of Messe Berlin swung open on 3 March 2026 for the 60th edition of ITB Berlin — the world’s leading travel trade show — Africa was not merely a guest. …

Angola, the official Host Country of ITB Berlin 2026, is the focus of the international travel industry from 3 to 5 March. At the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show the country from southwest Africa is showcasing its cultural diversity, spectacular natural beauty and a vision for sustainable development. Events kick off with the opening press conference and opening gala on …

Mozambique has officially launched a new digitally enabled e-Visa platform, marking a major step in the country’s tourism drive and broader digital transformation agenda. The system is designed to simplify travel procedures, modernise border management and make the country more accessible to international visitors, including an increasing number of travellers from Germany. The platform, introduced under the government’s Visit Mozambique …

The landmark Trans-African Tourism and Unity Campaign, led by Pan-African advocate and former Ghanaian lawmaker Ras Mubarak, concluded its multi-month continental tour on 22 January 2026 after traversing 31 African countries and covering more than 40,000 kilometres. The campaign, which began in Accra on 18 August 2025, was to promote visa-free travel across Africa by 2030, strengthen tourism, deepen cultural …

Over 60% of African countries now face costly bonds or travel restrictions, highlighting the growing global mobility gap compared with European citizens, for example. In recent months, the United States has introduced sweeping visa policy changes that disproportionately affect travellers from Africa, adding new obstacles to business trips, tourism and family reunification. Central to these changes is an expanded B‑1/B‑2 …

The newly released Henley Passport Index 2026 once again highlights the deep inequalities that shape global mobility, showing how nationality continues to determine who can move freely across borders and who cannot. The annual ranking, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), assesses passports according to the number of destinations their holders can enter without obtaining a …

Travelling to Europe will become more digital and more regulated in 2026, as the European Union and the United Kingdom introduce new entry systems aimed at improving border security and managing migration. These changes will be particularly relevant for travellers from Africa and other non-EU regions who visit Europe for tourism, business, education or family reasons. One of the most …

Tourism industry leaders from across the world gathered in the Kingdom of Bahrain on 6 December for the World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2025, a night dedicated to honouring the most innovative and outstanding performers in global travel and hospitality. Before the global finale, the Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2025 took place in Dar es …

Ghana has long been celebrated for its warmth, vibrant culture and powerful sense of history. Sandro Sacco and Jane da Silva Sacco, proprietors of Reiseservice Sacco —Germany’s leading travel agency for Africa, write about their recent trip to Accra, reaffirming why the country continues to captivate travellers from around the world. By Sandro Sacco & Jane da Silva Sacco Some …

In a landmark development for African tourism, Angola has been officially announced as the host country of International Tourism Bourse (ITB) Berlin 2026, taking centre stage at the world’s largest trade show’s 60th anniversary edition. On 16 October 2025, Angola’s Ministry of Tourism and Messe Berlin signed a partnership agreement to elevate Angola onto the global travel-industry stage from 3 …

Equatorial Guinea is showcasing a different African story — one of modern infrastructure, clean cities and strategic development. Writing from his Trans-African Tourism and Unity Campaign journey, former Ghanaian MP Ras Mubarak highlights the country’s progress while questioning Western double standards that often overshadow African achievements. As I journeyed through Equatorial Guinea, driving from Ghana to the vibrant city of …

Former Ghanaian MP and dedicated Pan-Africanist Ras Mubarak is leading a group of activists on an ambitious campaign to mobilize support for a visa-free and united Africa. The Trans African Tourism and Unity Campaign, a 163-day, 40,000-kilometer road trip spanning 39 African countries, advocates for the elimination of visa restrictions for African citizens travelling within the continent. Launched on 18 …

In a welcome development, Germany has unveiled four new Schengen visa application centres — two in Nigeria (Abuja and Lagos), one in Yaoundé (Cameroon) and another in Nicosia (Cyprus). This expansion, launched under a renewed seven-year agreement with VFS Global, seeks to streamline visa services and reduce bottlenecks affecting applicants. VFS Global is the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services …

The European Commission has confirmed that its long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) will begin its phased rollout on 12 October 2025, launching a digital transformation of border management across 29 European countries, including Schengen-associated states. Designed to modernise the cumbersome process of passport stamping, the EES will capture biometric data — fingerprints, facial images along with travel document and entry/exit details …