Category: Tourism

Practitioners in the tourism industry have reacted to the temporary closure of Nigerian borders, most especially the ever-busy Seme border. Last Wednesday , international travellers arrived at the Seme  international border early in the morning to discover that the Nigerian side of the border has been shut down. There was no prior information on the closure, leaving many travellers stranded and unable to get to their destinations while the closure lasted.

One of the stranded commuters in a video post had lamented: “Since 4a.m. this morning, I have been at the Seme border.  We came to the border and found out that the Nigerian Immigration Service had actually shut down the border without prior notice. As you can see, there are a lot of people travelling from different places that are affected. We can’t pass.

“The Benin people are not stamping our passports, same as the Nigerian side. There are many Nigerians that have been waiting. We have not eaten; we have no water and no one has come to tell us anything. People are just standing here waiting, nothing to do, no help, no official statement from anybody. We want to understand what is going on; we really need help.”

Speaking on the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Customs, Seme border, Mr. Saidu Abdullahi,  said the closure was based on orders from above.

He said: “A joint task force by all the relevant security agencies was deployed, and once they come, they need to ascertain who and who they would allow to pass. That is why it is assumed there was a temporary closure. But one of their major assignments there was to regulate irregular migration, meaning that for you to pass, you must validate your documents.”

On the time many international  travellers spent before crossing with no prior information, Saidu explained: ”The task force is manned by the Office of the National Security Adviser. When you are going to treat an issue that concerns national security, you don’t just go and announce to the world that tomorrow I am going take over the border. The criminally minded would have been given notice.”

Operators in the travel and tourism industry have been reacting to the temporary closure. The President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Alhaji Saleh Rabo, said: “Generally for us in tourism, that is not a good one. It is not encouraging. Even if you are going to close border or there is something like that is going to happen, they need to give prior information so that people would be aware and prepared.

“You see, when they attach security to it now, it brings a dimension because where there is an issue of security, sometimes you cannot question because they know more than we know. Probably there is a reason why they have to take that action, but it is always better to give prior notice, especially if it is going involve an international border. Only God knows in terms of trade what would have been lost.”

Nigeria’s foremost tour operator, Chief Jemi Alade, commented on the issue: “It is something good happening. The only issue is that notification should have been given because people have business transactions across the border. If you just close the border, it will affect their business transactions. That is the only thing I see wrong with it, but I think it is high time they declared a state of emergency and close the borders. Let us know who belongs to Nigeria and who does not. In a situation where the border is  porous and the government does not see anything wrong with it, is worrisome, but I think it is timely.”

The FTAN Vice President South West, Chief Ayo Olumoko, reacted to the closure: “Certainly within the period the border was closed, Nigeria would have lost a lot revenue, but lives are equally important. We have heard about so many things coming through the Seme border for example.”

THE Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup,  the world’s largest corporate golf tournament, will be played in Lagos for the fourth time.

The airline said the golf tournament was a proof that “the airline also serves up the very best for its clients on the fairways as well as the runways – all with the genuine Turkish hospitality famous around the world.

“Golf is entrenched in the Turkish Airlines philosophy that customers’ clubs can even fly for free. Players can look forward to another unforgettable Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup, which is now in its seventh year and is sponsored by National Car Rental & SOCAR.”

Yunus Ozbek, General Manager of Turkish Airlines, Lagos, said: “We are thrilled to be back in Lagos with the TAWGC and a new group of golfers as our event has become a highlight on the region’s calendar over the past four years. We are proud that this competition has grown in parallel with the world class Turkish Airlines brand. Good luck to the players, we look forward to inviting the winner to represent Lagos in the Grand Finals in Turkey later this year.

“Flying to more countries than any other airline in the world, Turkish Airlines supports some of the world’s most successful sports  people and organisations, bridging cultures and continents. Alongside TAWGC, Turkish Airlines is title sponsor of Turkish Airlines Euroleague, Europe’s top club level basketball competition and is committed to supporting the best sporting competitions around the world.”

The 2018 Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup broke records yet again with 100 qualifying events that took place around the world, including past Open Championship venue Royal Birkdale and Ryder Cup destinations Gleneagles and the K Club in Dublin. Winners reached the Grand Finals in Turkey and the champions in the Finals secured places in the Turkish Airlines Open Pro-Am, where previous winners have played alongside Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

AFRICAN Travel Quarterly (Atqnews) has unveiled a shortlist of diaspora winners of the Africa Travel 100 Global personalities awards.

The award recognizes personalities of African origin, living in Africa or outside the continent, irrespective of their current citizenship or nationality that has been contributing to the development of the continent and its diaspora in the area of tourism and travel. This comes as the plan to launch a global tourism association for tourism players in Africa and the diaspora nears completion.

The African Travel 100 Global Personalities Award will take place during the 15th AKWAABA African Travel Market at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on  September  23. Akwaaba African Travel Market is from  September 22 to 24.

The award is expected to honour personalities in the travel and tourism sector that have exemplified themselves in the industry and contributed to the growth of the sector in Africa and the diaspora. The event will be part of the First African Tourism Diaspora Conference 2019. The conference is expected to draw top tourism personalities from around the world to Lagos, Nigeria.

African Tourism Diaspora Conference 2019 is to mark the 400 years of slavery. Slavery is a very sensitive topic  that has created an uncomfortable relationship between Africa and its diaspora. The conference is an opportunity to celebrate the merging of Africans, Americans, Caribbeans and the rest of the world during this memorable gathering expected in Lagos.

Africa with 54 countries and a population of 1.2 billion has an unbelievable tourist attraction. The Caribbean and African diaspora have a unique culture, rich heritage and beautiful destinations for tourists, hence the need to connect and combine these wonderful cultures and population, creating a huge global market.

The African Diaspora Tourism Conference presents a platform to discuss, initiate, dialogue and celebrate a new relationship. The recognition of Africa as a beacon of hope for African people living on the continent and in the diaspora to explore, relate and live using the African Diaspora Tourism Conference as the African platform for the foundation of this long-lasting relationship. Posterity will remember that the improvement was earned not by coincidence, but by conscious efforts to validate the struggles, strengths and linkages between African descendants on a pan-African scale.

The Africa Travel 100 Awards, now in her 18th year, has recognized over the years leaders, industry practitioners and the government officials who have promoted tourism and improved travel, using unique platforms and new information.

Among this year’s winners include:    Mr. Edmund Barlett , Jamaica’s minister of tourism; Rosemary Sadlier , promoter of  Black Cultural Heritage in Canada; Dr. Eugene Franklin,  Chairman, Pan African Cultural Heritage Institute;  Diallo Sumbry -, first ambassador of African-America Tourism to Ghana; Carol Hay,  Director of Marketing Caribbean Tourism Organisation, UK and Europe;  Professor Thomas Mensah – Ghanaian / American Pioneer in fiber Optic technology, Author “The right stuff comes in Black too”;  Fabien Anthony- Chairman  and  Co-Founder Pan-African Council;  Kitty Pope,  Creator, Africa Diaspora World Tourism Awards;  Eric Martin and  Kent Johnson,  founders of Black and Abroad; Cherae Robinson , founder, Tastemakers Africa; Macaulay Kalu,  chairman, African Union 6th Region;  Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, African Union ambassador to the U.S;   Carolyn Anderson , founder, Beyond All Border;   Danny Rivers Mitchell , founder, Black Girls Travel Too;  Kumi Rauf , CEO, I Love Being Black; Jessica Nabongo ,  Founder/ CEO Jet Black; Rozan Ahmed,  Cultural Institute Creative Writer, and many others.

Father of Tourism in Nigeria, Chief Mike Amachree, has called on governments at all levels in the country to develop tourist sites in their area. Amachree said this will help stem the tide of capital flight through Nigerians travelling out of the country for leisure and relaxation.  He said it will also help boost the local economy of communities where these sites are located.

Amachree was speaking when Hon. Ken Chikere, member, House of Representatives for Port Harcourt 2 Federal Constituency, paid him a courtesy visit at his Niger Delta Garden, Maraba, Nassarawa State. He commended the law- maker for finding time to visit the tourist site and explained that as Father of Tourism in Nigeria, he would wish that tourism would be more developed than its current state in country.

Speaking further, the tourist guru and former President, Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), informed the lawmaker that Nasarawa State where the Niger Delta Garden is situated was once a part of Plateau State where tourism promotion started in Nigeria. He noted that the former governor of the state, Alhaji Akwe Doma, was one of the founding fathers of ATPN and   Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN). He said practitioners were making plans to visit the current governor of  the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Sule, in Lafia to brief him on how to make Nasarawa State one of the leading tourist destinations in Nigeria.He also eulogised Hon. Chikere for being part of his success story in tourism. He said Chikere was there when the Port Harcourt Tourist Beach resort was opened.

Earlier, Hon. Chikere praised  Amachree for his undying interest in the promotion and development of tourism in Nigeria. Chikere, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, River State, was full of praise for what Amachree has accomplished in the tourism industry.

He commended Amachree for establishing  Brooklyn hotels in

Lagos, Okoloma Afam and Buguma; Port Hacourt Tourist Beach Resort; Niger Delta Garden, Maraba, Nasarawa State, and also the Brooklyn Tourist Centre and Zoological garden and Museum , Rumuosi, near University of  Port Harcourt.

He also commended Amachree for his contribution as member of the Vision 2010 Committee during the regime of the late General Sani Abacha which was where the seed for the creation of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism was sown.