The Nation Newspaper

Category: Travels on Saturday

  • ITTS: why we’re honouring tourism, aviation, FCT ministers, others

    THE Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the International Tourism and Transport Summit (ITTS) billed to hold on 29 and 30 of this month in Abuja, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, has given reasons for  the summit’s  organising committee’s decision  to honour some notable Nigerians with awards during the summit.

    He said the awardees had contributed to the development of tourism and transport in the country.  He said these Nigerians had brought leadership styles that had enhanced governance with positive impact on the people.

    Odusanwo, in a chat with the press, spoke on the awards: “We actually have different committees that handle different aspects of the summit. You know the summit is multi-sectoral. We drew individuals from these sectors-marine, aviation, road, railway, tourism and so on.

    “We picked those that are actually making impact on these sectors. They made suggestions in terms of nominations. For example, if you look into the case of Dr. Dakuku Peterside, he has made so much contribution in terms of what the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been able to achieve.

    “They’ve trained many marine persons; they have done so much in the area of marine regulations. You will see that the volume of trade coming into Nigeria has actually increased. The same thing goes for the Managing Director of  Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Haji Hadiza Bala Usman.   She has reduced the congestions at the ports and the time items coming into Nigeria stay has been reduced. She has been able to work with other agencies to reduce congestions at the ports.”

    The head of the ITTS organizing committee also spoke of the achievements of the Minister State for Transport (Aviation), Alhaji Hadi Serika.

    He said: “He has also done so much. We had the case when Abuja airport was shut down. He gave us a time line of six months to complete the renovation and re-open it. The job was done within six months, even early. That is commendable.

    “We are  seeing his efforts to revive Nigeria Airways. It is during Serika’s time that the old Nigerian Airways staff were paid. The issue had been dragging on since two or three past regimes. These are some of the reasons we are honouring them. It is also a reflection of the leadership they are bringing  into their organization.

    “The committee also recommended the FCT minister, Malam Mohammed Bello. We have seen what he has been able to do in terms of leadership. We now have an improved rail system that helps transport mobility within the city. These people are operating with the same budget like the past. What has changed? It is their leadership style. It has made them to actually achieve more.

    “The same goes for  Mr. Kayode Opeifa; he has brought the excellence in leadership while in Lagos to his national assignment.”

    Odusanwo said this year’s summit would build on the success of last year. He complained that the general elections this year reduced the period the committee had to reach out.

    “The terrain this year is a bit challenging in the light of the elections that just took place. We didn’t have much time to communicate with stakeholders like we did last year, but because they were already aware of the summit because the summit really is a product of the National Council on Transportation held in Sokoto  which more or less mandated the Federal Ministry of Transportation and all other agencies to partner. This year we will  try and achieve as much as possible  taking into consideration our experience of last year,”he said.

    Others to be honoured include Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transport; Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture; Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director General, National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAA); Captain Mukhtar Usman, Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); Muneer Bankole, Managing Director Medview Airlines; Captain Abdulsalami Mohammed, Rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology; Mr. Freeborm Okiria, Managing Director, Nigerian Railways Corporation,Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, Nigerian Tribune; Okorie Uguru, The Nation Newspapers and many others.

  • Turkish Airlines starts Port Harcourt operations in June

    THE General Manager of Turkish Airlines for Lagos office, Mr. Yunus Ozbek, has said the airline is aiming to provide the best choice for Nigeria and indeed Africa.

    He was speaking during the announcement of the beginning of its operations from Port Harcourt International Airports. He said the operations will commence from June.

    He said: “Turkish Airlines aims to provide one of the best choices for a comfortable travel from Africa. The Port-Harcourt hub is a major part of the expansion of our operations in Nigeria, and our flights are aimed at meeting the growing travel demand by leisure travellers as well as a growing number of entrepreneurs from and around the region.”

    According to Ozbek, the airline flies to  more destinations than any other airline. He said: Turkish Airlines has again demonstrated its commitment to offer new international gateways across the world for its guests. In Nigeria, the airline currently operates from Lagos, Abuja and Kano and offers more than 300 destinations in 124 countries worldwide.  In addition to 56 destinations in Africa, Turkish Airlines will be operating Port-Harcourt flights four times a week from June 24.

  • Ooni to grace 1st Africa Tourism Diaspora Conference

    THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja 11), will be the special guest of honour at this year’s inaugural edition of the African Tourism Diaspora Conference. The conference will be part of the 15th Akwaaba African Travel Market taking place from September 22  nd to 24th, this year, in Lagos.

    The Oba will be addressing not just the Yoruba nation at the event which takes place September 23rd, but the global African diaspora on bringing African cultures together to grow its people.

    The Ooni in his remark while receiving the Akwaaba team who came to invite him on the side lines of a NATOP visit said:  “There are over 500 million Yoruba’s across the world and the ancestral home of Ile-Ife is ready to welcome them when they visit Nigeria”. He said the African Tourism Diaspora conference is a great platform and timely for this important conversation to be held

    Meanwhile, the organisers of Akwaaba travel fair have announced the partnership deal with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation UK chapter for this year’s event. The partnership was signed last year at the World Travel Market held in London. The Caribbean Tourism Organisation represents the tourism board of the Caribbean Islands.

    At the Caribbean Tourism Organizations (CTO) Annual General Meeting (AGM), in Carlton House Terrace, London, Dein Gbabo, Business Development Manager, Akwaaba Travel Market made a presentation about the upcoming event in September to participants.

    The CTO members were very excited to explore the African market for the very first time this year, and will be using Akwaaba Travel market as a platform to shore up tourists from the continent and also showcase beautiful tourist’s’ site of the Caribbean Islands. The CTO’s participation at the Exhibitions was announced to partners as part of the Caribbean month’s events of 2019.

    The AGM had a good turnout of partners from British Airways, The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Antiga and Berbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Dominica, St Vincent’s and the grenadines, Tour operators, Influencers and DMC’s and also featured a panel discussion moderated by Jamie-Lee Abtar BDM CTO UK Chapter on the Topic: Under the Influence; Paving the way for Diversity in Travel. Great panel discussion on the use of influencers for destination marketing, diversity in marketing products to meet product specification and audience and creating experiences and cultural inclusion to travel.

  • S/Africa High Commissioner warns against fake news

    The South African Acting High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Bobby J. Moroe,  has cautioned against the use of misinformation, fake pictures and videos on social media,  as well as fake websites to fuel  tensions in the communities between South Africans and foreign nationals.

    He said certain messages and images that appeared on social media were old and unrelated to any of the reported incidents of alleged attacks on foreign nationals over the past few days.

    He said for instance, a message being circulated about foreign nationals burning South African owned trucks in Limpopo Province was not true.

    According to him, government has consistently condemned  fake news websites masquerading as authentic news websites.

    Moroe urged everyone to be vigilant and not spread fake information and images that may give an impression that these are attacks on foreign nationals.

    The High Commissioner, however, described the recent acts of xenophobic attack of some foreigners in the KwaZulu Natal (KZN) and Limpopo provinces of South Africa as regrettable.

    He said the South African government believes that no amount of frustration or anger could justify the attacks.

    He said further: “The Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security Cluster (JCPS) is working tirelessly on the issue of attacks on foreign nationals. To this end, three people have been arrested for the recent incidents in KZN and Limpopo and law enforcement agencies remain steadfast to bring perpetrators responsible for these crimes to book.

    “The government of South Africa strongly condemns the violent acts in the strongest possible terms. These attacks violate all the values that South Africa embodies, especially the respect for human life, human rights, human dignity and Ubuntu. Our country stands firmly against all intolerances such as racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism.

  • ‘Negative reports about Nigeria scare away tourists, investors’

    THE Acting Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Kabir Momoh, has identified negative reports as tool affecting tourism sector’s growth, saying such reports scare away foreign investors.

    He was speaking during the 2019 travel journalists’ training with the  theme: Building A Sustainable Destination Through Tourism Reportage.

    He called on travel journalists to be conscious of the effects of their writings in building Nigeria as a viable tourism destination.

    He said: “The media is indispensable in championing the  cause of tourism development. The media can do this through effective and organized reportage that will promote  sustainable tourism industry.”

    Director General of the Nigerian Tourism and Development Commission(NTDC), Folorunsho Coker, said: “Tourism cannot thrive unless the media promotes it. The media is the bedrock of tourism. My primary interest is on environmental journalism. If you do not talk about yourself, no one will.

    The President of the  Federation Tourism Association of Nigeria(FTAN), Alhaji Rabo Saleh, also  called for positive reportage about tourism in the country.

    He said: “A lot of negative information has been written about Nigeria, and this cannot help the growth of tourism. If we want tourism to grow, we have to talk about the positive sides and nobody will do that for us. We have to do it, and ANJET has been playing that role.

    “I am sure they will continue to play that role for us to attain that.  This is another good time for us. The elections have just been held and we are supposed to have a new government in place.

    “Unfortunately, we don’t have a ministry of tourism and culture, but we are under information. Therefore, we call on President  Buhari, as a matter of urgency, to create a ministry of tourism and culture so that tourism will be given its place.

    “If we want tourism to replace oil, we need to fund it. All the parastatals need to be funded properly, so that tourism will take its rightful place.”

  • Eko Hotels on the move

    IN line with the current global efforts by hospitality outfits to protect the environment through responsible tourism and  living green to keep the environment clean for future generation, the Eko Hotels and Suites, one of the biggest hospitality outfits in the country, is keying into the global efforts.

    Eko Hotels and Suites is taking the lead to drive this cause by introducing environmentally conscious attitude to run its operations.

    A statement by the hotel said: “We see great opportunity in building capacity in an area that improves the personal welfare of guests, their families and our society more broadly. As part of the programmes and activities planned around the eco-friendly campaign, Eko Hotels and Suites will be hosting a painting contest.

    “The Eco Friendly Children Painting Contest is a visual art contest that encourages students to create a piece of art inspired by nature that surrounds us, reflecting a society that encourages innovative and sustainable waste management, energy and water conservation.”

    The hotel said the main objective was to  help children develop a sense of respect and care for the natural environment and  to express their thoughts and ideas about their environment, to raise awareness in schools about the importance of the natural environment and ways of preserving it, to demonstrate students’ knowledge about recycling and natural greenery of their communities; to help students realise that each individual has a social responsibility to contribute to the protection and preservation of the environment.

    The visual arts challenge by the hotel will be  opened to selected secondary schools in the Eti-Osa council area in Lagos State for students between ages 12  and 15 of public and private schools.

    Of the selected 20 participating schools, 10 will be shortlisted to partake in the grand finale. Shortlisted artists and their guardians will be treated to a two-day all-expense paid, activity filled weekend at  Eko Hotels and Suites leading up to the contest date which falls on April 22 , Earth Day, 2019.

  • La Campagne adds mud house with indoor pool

    La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort has never ceased to impress and improve on its facilities and services as it periodically upgrades to the delight of patrons and visitors to the resort.

    The experience is always turbo charged on visit as you are never too sure of the surprises that await you.

    This time, just like it did with the introduction of a mud house that bore all the elegance and sophistication of modern and trendy guesthouse, the management of the Ikegun village, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos – based African themed resort has come up with another world beater.

    In its familiar style of infusing simple and sometimes common place and overlooked traditional arts, crafts, motifs and materials with glamourous and enchanting ambience as well as functional, it has given birth to a new mud house in the mood of the first mud house built by it last year but this time, with an indoor swimming pool.

    Such a rare and creative feat that since it opened  attracts viewing by patrons and visitors to the resort who are taken in by the natural appeal and ingenuity of the creator of the mud house that is stylishly fitted and furnished to taste with modern amenities wrapped in luxury for the comfort and relaxation of the guest.

    Named Amonsan (Meaning mud is good), the mud house is a four bedroom apartment, featuring quite electrifying and fascinating facilities. The list include: An indoor swimming pool with an inbuilt bar that is richly stocked with wide selection of drinks; Two spacious living areas that are fitted to the hilt exuding opulence; a dining area, with a rich dining set to the bargain that is built around tree trunks; and Tastefully decorated African interiors.

  • Southern Sun prepares ‘Easter Experience’

    In celebrating the Easter season and ensuring that guests have an opportunity to experience its luxury and culinary offerings with family, friends and their significant others, Southern Sun Ikoyi has unveiled its Easter offerings for guests.

    The package includes special room rates from Thursday, April 18 to Monday, April 22. The hotel is offering guests the opportunity to enjoy uncluttered room for a bed and breakfast stay at the hotel at.

    Famed for its fine dining and serene ambience, the Easter holiday’s package by Southern Sun Ikoyi is one dedicated to give guests a memorable treat of exquisite dishes designed to truly satisfy the taste buds and yearnings of guests with an experience of a culinary ecstasy through its wide varieties on its special Easter brunch on Sunday, April 21.

    Read also: Southern Sun Ikoyi introduces romantic Valentine day offerings

    For fitness enthusiasts, the gym is well-equipped to meet your needs and is run with staff who are extremely warm, friendly and working together in making your overall stay at the hotel, a memorable one. In making this year’s Easter celebration truly unforgettable, take advantage of the long weekend break and usher in the arrival of the Easter bunny in luxurious comfort and style.

  • Nigeria, Ghana, Tunisia hold business forum in Tunis

    An international business forum aimed at bringing together entrepreneurs and businessmen from Nigeria, Tunisia and other West African countries is to hold between June 8 and June 14 in Tunis, the Tunisia capital.

    The business forum, a collaborative effort of the Tunisian embassy in Abuja, CMD Tours and Grey and White Nigeria Limited, has the theme:  Harnessing Business and Trade Opportunities between Nigeria and Tunisia. Although the forum will focus on business relationship between Tunisia and West African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin and others.

    In a press release issued on the business forum, signed by Cecile Doumbe, the organisers said the reason for the forum was based on the need for a genuine wealth-building through networking to achieve robust economic  development and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the country.

    Nigeria and Tunisia Business Investment Forum is anchored on the principle to harness businesses and trade opportunities together.

    According to her, Nigeria, with a population of about 191.8 million and growing GDP of about US$ 581.6 billion, is a business hub, with a robust private sector. The Nigerian government is promoting the increased production in the non-oil sector of the economy by creating a level-playing field for private-sector led activity. Essentially, the pivots around which the framework for economic growth and development will include tourism, agriculture,  agro business, solid mineral development, information and communications technology (ICT), crude oil and natural gas.

    Tunisia became the world’s second largest olive oil producer in 2017 behind Spain, and growing global demand could absorb double that amount. Tunisia also has substantial phosphate deposits and was the world’s fifth largest producer until 2011. It also has gas deposits for domestic consumption.

    The improving security situation is reopening possibilities for new investment in tourism. It has a diversified industrial base (aeronautics, chemical industry, and textiles), making both countries an economic hub in Africa.

    Doumbe said the event was important because of the many highlighted businesses and trade opportunities that Nigeria and Tunisia can greatly benefit from unchanged at 4.2 per cent.

    The economy of Nigeria advanced 2.4 per cent year-on-year in the last quarter of 2018, following a 1.8 per cent expansion in the previous period and beating market expectations of a 2.1 per cent gain. It was the highest growth rate since the third quarter of 2015, as the non-oil sector increased further and the oil sector contracted less. Output increased further for information and telecommunication, arts, entertainment and recreation; agriculture; manufacturing; and construction.

    Among the areas the business forum would cover are  ICT, medical and agriculture, tourism agribusiness, aviation, education and Training, Skilled Workforce Development, Health Care Services and Awareness Programmes, Entertainment, Hospitality and Tourism, Infrastructure and Real Estate, Manufacturing, Maritime and Shipping, Extractive Industries Telecommunications, Technology and Innovation, Waste Management and Environmental Remediation, Transportation, Mining, The Banking Sector, etc.

  • Tourism summit to discuss sustainable development

    THE Corps Marshal General of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Marshal General Boboye Oyeyemi, and the Commissioner/ Chief Executive Officer of the Accident and Investigations Bureau, Mr. Akin Olateru, would be lead speakers at the second edition of this year’s International Transport and Tourism Summit (ITTS) holding in Abuja from April 27 to May 1 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

    The theme for this year’s summit: Tourism and Transportation Inter-dependences for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development. In addition to the above speakers, the heads of the Nigerian Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Nigerian College of Aviation (NCAT) will also be among the speakers.

    Speaking on the this year’s event, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chief Abiodun Odusanwo,  said the summit brings together  stakeholders,  regulators, decision makers and captains in transport and tourism to come and exchange ideas.

    He said this year’s edition summit will go deeper into the nexus between the transport and tourism. His words: “This year, we are going deeper; we are looking at their tourism for inclusive growth and interdependencies for inclusive growth and sustainability. Last year, we just look at them generally, but this year, we are looking at their interdependencies.

    “Reason is that having understood that there was need for connectivity between them, this year, we now look into how dependent they are and how the connectivity can now be achieved.  We would now come out with a communiqué that would be policy guidelines and strategic directions that the two sectors would bring in order to maximize growth,” Odusanwo said.

    He said participants at the four-day event will be drawn from major key players and stakeholders in the transportation and tourism sectors from the international community in critical areas such as the air transportation, meaning, airlines, tour and travel operators, administrators of the aviation industry; the maritime industry which includes sea transport, boats and sea cruising operators; road transportation, including major transport owners, car hire services, Uber, NURTW, RTEAN, road traffic and safety agencies, including the FRSC, NPF, NSCDC, motor insurance companies, state transport ministries and agencies and rail transport services.

    Others are operators of the tourism and hospitality industry, including tourism resort operators, national parks services; museums and monuments, state tourism ministries and boards, festivals and tourism event managers, hoteliers, restaurants and fast food operators, conferences and events managers, as well as service providers in the banking, oil and gas industries.

    Speaking further on what the ITTS has achieved, Odusanwo said the summit had succeeded in bringing a synergy of transport and tourism sectors.

    His words: “Members of the organizing committee of the summit cut across the tourism and transport industry. So, there was a lot synergy and networking among the members. Also the communiqué issued cuts across both sectors. This has enhanced the understanding of the connectivity among these sectors. This summit has helped in this direction.

    “The tourism transport summit and expo programme will begin with the Host City Walk on Saturday, April 27; the tourism transport summit and exhibition will hold from Monday, 29th to Tuesday 30th April with B2B and G2B sessions; The Tuesday 30th April events will be rounded up with the Award and Gala Night; while the entire Program will end with the Host City Walk on May 1st.

    Experts and professionals drawn from the academia as well as key players and stakeholders in the industries will deliver healthy thought provoking papers on carefully selected sub themes of the Summit which includes: Tourism in a Hyper Connection World: Making Technology Work for the Tourism and Transportations Sectors; Potentialities of Developing Regional Inter-Connectivity in Africa; Inter-Modal Connectivity, Traveller Safety and Security; Development of Critical Infrastructure and the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria-The Case of Tourism and Transportation Industries and Building Capacity for Global Best Practice in the Tourism and Transportation Sectors, among others.