The tour was formally announced at a press briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, which attracted stakeholders from the tourism, aviation, travel, entertainment and media sectors. The initiative is aimed at promoting Africa-to-Africa travel while strengthening economic ties between Nigeria and Kenya.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Bopo Oyekan-Ismail, said tourism and entertainment remain central to Lagos State’s economic development strategy. She spoke on behalf of the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson.
Oyekan-Ismail noted that the Lagos State Government continues to support initiatives that encourage international travel and position Lagos as a leading tourism and aviation hub on the continent. According to her, outbound tourism initiatives such as the Nairobi Lifestyle Tour also have the potential to stimulate inbound travel into Lagos.
She said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has consistently prioritised tourism, culture and the creative economy as key pillars of growth, adding that the Nairobi Lifestyle Tour aligns with the state’s broader development agenda. She further explained that the tour is expected to deliver economic benefits to Lagos through increased aviation traffic, hospitality patronage and demand for related services, as all outbound flights for the tour will originate from the state.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Leisure Republic, Mr Michael Kadiri, described tourism and lifestyle travel as powerful tools for economic transformation across Africa. He said the Nairobi Lifestyle Tour reflects a growing shift towards premium and curated travel experiences capable of unlocking value across multiple sectors.
According to Kadiri, tourism has evolved beyond mere movement across borders to become a platform for value creation, partnerships and sustainable economic impact. He described the initiative as a new benchmark for African lifestyle travel, driven by intentional Africa-to-Africa tourism, strong collaboration across the tourism value chain and the creation of long-term tourism links.
He added that Leisure Republic is focused on driving economic growth through premium tourism offerings that combine culture, entertainment, wildlife, wellness, cuisine and luxury hospitality, noting that Kenya provides an ideal setting to showcase the richness and diversity of African experiences.
Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism that the Nairobi Lifestyle Tour would strengthen regional integration, boost private sector participation and further highlight tourism’s role as a viable engine for sustainable economic development across Africa.