The Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER) has called on African governments to promote sustainable, technology-driven tourism that protects marine and coastal ecosystems, as the world marks World Tourism Day 2026 in El Salvador.
This year’s celebration is themed “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”
In a press statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by its Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Hajiya Medina Dauda Nadabo, ABER said the theme presents Africa with a survival toolkit to protect its oceans while hosting the world.
READ ALSO: Akwa Ibom Records Major Youth, Tourism Gains
The statement was signed by the convener and founder of ABER, Dr Piriye Kiyaramo.
Dr. Kiyaramo aligned with UN Tourism and the Government of El Salvador, the global host of WTD 2026, noting that Africa’s three planetary crises – climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution – are directly linked to this year’s theme.
According to ABER, Africa must move “from extractive tourism that destroys biodiversity to immersive tourism that funds its protection, and digital is the bridge.”
The group described its position as Smart Blue Tourism – Where Code Meets Coast.
“African governments need to invest in National Digital Tourism Systems, AI-enabled marine monitoring, and youth-led BlueTech innovation hubs,” Dr Kiyaramo said.
He proposed smart apps that enable tourists to report illegal fishing or log wildlife sightings, turning every visitor into a conservation partner.
Kiyaramo warned that rising sea levels, coastal erosion, ocean warming, and extreme weather are destroying prime tourism assets, from the beaches of Mombasa and Cape Town to the mangroves of the Niger Delta and islands of Zanzibar.
“AI models can forecast coastal erosion, flooding, and coral bleaching, enabling stakeholders to reroute tourists, warn communities, and design climate-resilient resorts. Without AI, we cannot climate-proof Africa’s blue tourism. With AI, we can sell resilience as an experience,” he stated.
He noted that digital tools can monitor and reduce the carbon footprint of hotels, boats, and flights to promote low-carbon blue tourism.
On biodiversity, ABER said over 60 per cent of Africa’s coastal biodiversity is under threat due to overfishing and destruction of coral reefs, marine turtles, dolphins and mangroves.
“AI-powered drones and underwater cameras can track turtle nesting in Bayelsa, whale migration in South Africa, and coral health in Kenya without disturbing ecosystems. A tourist can ‘dive’ into a coral reef digitally through AR/VR,” Kiyaramo said.
He noted that immersive AR/VR experiences would reduce physical pressure on fragile ecosystems while still generating income.
ABER also decried that Africa’s oceans receive over 17 million tons of plastic annually, with plastic-choked beaches in Lagos, Accra, and Port Harcourt repelling tourists.
To address this, the group proposed three digital solutions:
– Use of satellite imagery and AI to map plastic hotspots along the Gulf of Guinea in real time;
– Creation of digital platforms connecting beach hotels, fishermen, and recycling startups to convert plastic waste into tourism products;
– Development of mobile apps that reward tourists for participating in beach clean-ups or choosing plastic-free resorts.
“A clean ocean is Africa’s best tourism brochure. Digital tools make cleanliness measurable, marketable, and monetisable,” Kiyaramo stated.
ABER concluded that the Digital Agenda and AI are not just about booking trips faster but about redesigning tourism that heals the ocean.
