Category: Tourism

OKORIE UGURU

 

SANAD Aerotech (Sanad), the leading provider of aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) solutions and part of Sanad – a wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), has elevated its business expansion ambitions in Africa by signing an agreement with Ethiopian Airlines.

Signed at MRO Africa, the agreement paves the way for Sanad and Ethiopian Airlines to collaborate and maximise on untapped MRO business opportunities in the region.

The initial phase of the agreement will see Sanad and Ethiopian Airlines establishing a Centre of Excellence for the repair and overhaul of auxiliary power units (APU) in Addis Ababa and will start with APU’s used on B737 and A320 aircraft.

This will pave the way for future collaboration in the provision of APU MRO services to other African airlines. The strategic alliance also has future aspirations to expand capabilities to include aircraft components and aircraft engine MRO. The latest agreement between Sanad and Ethiopian Airlines builds on a 2018 MOU to collaborate on APU capabilities, among others.

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Mansoor Janahi, Sanad Aerotech CEO, said: “Sanad continues to push ahead with its strategy of expanding a global presence through strategic alliances with well-established companies that share the same vision for quality and excellence.

“Our strategic alliance with Ethiopian Airlines goes beyond this announcement, as it provides greater opportunities for us to jointly collaborate and develop mutually beneficial activities across the entire African continent.”

Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, on his part, said, “This Strategic Alliance with Sanad Aerotech is consistent with Ethiopian Airlines vision of making its MRO facility the leading MRO service provider in Africa through strategic partnerships with OEMs and selected international MRO Service Providers.

“Our MRO facility is ready to provide cost effective and efficient overhaul services with standard turnaround time (TAT) to APUs of African Airlines. Ethiopian would like to expand this cooperation with Sanad Aerotech to cover other aircraft components.”

 

Sanad has built strategic relationships with leading international OEMs including Rolls-Royce, General Electric (GE), and International Aero Engines (IAE), which have enabled Sanad to deliver competitive aircraft engine MRO expertise throughout a variety of engine maintenance service programs across multiple engine platforms.

OKORIE UGURU

 

TOURISM in Lagos State is set to be taken to a new dimension as a company, Hi-Impact Cruise, is set to launch its luxury cruise boat on the Lagos water. The boat christened Eugene will be doing  four-hour tours of  different parts of Lagos on water.

The luxury boat cruise, valued at 700,000 dollars (about N255m), built in Turkey,  is a new offering in the tourism products available for locals and visitors. The aim, according to the company, was in line with the goals of the federal government to diversify the country’s economy to other key areas like tourism.

Speaking on the new cruise boat, the Chairman of Solution Media and Infotech Limited, the parent company of Hi-Impact Cruise, Prince Adeyanju Lipede,   said the company is offering Nigerian fun lovers the opportunity to enjoy in Lagos what they travel outside the country to enjoy. This, he said, would save the country foreign exchange.

Prince Lipede said Solution Media and Infotech Limited has a track record in the Nigerian tourism and entertainment industry of delivering world-class quality entertainment and leisure offerings.

His words: “We have been in entertainment. We have done it in Nigeria and we have done it outside Nigeria. Now we have come back. Let me first analyse it so that you will have a good grip of what it is. When we started in Nigeria, we were doing quite a few things. In 2013, we singlehandedly handled The Experience in terms of audio and lights.

“We still have the best equipment in that area. Even in visuals, the company has the most expensive set of equipment, both light and video cameras, including a studio which is for animation. Nobody has that in Africa, including a 4D camera system.

Read Also: Lagos to launch 8 boats, mobile app to enhance water transportation

 

“After that, we then decided that we have done something for the adult, what do we do for the kids? In 2013, we had the Hi-Impact for Creative Kids. Hi-Impact is synonymous with us. Hi-Impact is that we ‘impactfully’ control any sector of the economy that we find ourselves in which is entertainment and tourism.

“We went into Dubai; we have a company registered in Dubai. We had the biggest and the most successful African entertainment show called Dance Afrique which other people are now trying to emulate and follow.

“We then went to London and repeated that twice at the SSE Arena. We were the first Africans to be allowed to use place and we did it successfully.

“We went to those places to acquire experience and international operating standard, to be exposed to international best practices. Where ever we’ve been to, we have been able to determine what the best is, removing the Nigerian factor. We are very scientific and we call ourselves the Nigerian expatriates.”

Hi-Impact cruise, he said, when fully operational would offer cruise facilities to cater for different social occasions ranging from dinners  to parties, wedding reception and so on.

Prince Lipede said: “Hi-Impact is another arm of our business which is brought in to encourage Nigerians to stay at home. Not going to Dubai or Paris or anywhere in Europe for something like a day cruise. We are making sure that all the facilities that would make you comfortable are inside here.

“There will be lots of entertainment; there will be good food, nice ambience, fully air-conditioned inside. It has enough banquet sitting capacity. It is between 500 to 700 hundred persons depending on the sitting arrangement.  It has three and half floors, and there is a pent-house that is further up.

“If we are doing cinema sitting, it will take up to 1100. It is going to cruise only four hour s every weekend or any time that we have cruise   and we move around to see Lagos. The cruise boat is brought in line with the federal and state governments’ vision to enhancing tourism as a means of generating revenue”.

OKORIE UGURU

 

THE teams of Sheraton Hotels in Lagos and Abuja have designed romantic stay and family getaway for friends, families and loved ones this Valentine’s period.

According to the General Manager for Marriott Hotels in Nigeria, Barry Curran,  the hotels  encourage all customers to join us for Valentine’s Day to spark up those magical moments.

He said: “Our teams have truly gone beyond to create unforgettable love filled moments for all who come in through our doors.

Both our hotels will be delightfully decorated to reflect the Valentine’s spirit and we believe this will create long lasting memories.”

Read Also: Eko Hotels goes eco-friendly in business

 

At Sheraton Lagos Hotel, there will be  packages on both classic and club rooms as well as food and beverage offers

For those visiting Abuja, Sheraton Abuja Hotel teams have put together array of Valentine’s Day activities.

The experiences include; a beautiful arrival through a love tunnel, match making games where you get to pick half of a heart shaped color coded card at our restaurant venue and then meet your date who will have the other half of the heart shaped heart with the matching colour.

OKORIE UGURU

 

THE role of tourism and investment in African development took centre stage at the FITUR trade fair in Madrid this week as sector leaders joined the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the 11th edition of INVESTOUR (Tourism Investment and Business Forum for Africa) which saw the participation of over 20 African ministers and heads of delegations.

Supported by Casa Africa (representing the Spanish government), the International Tourism Fair of Madrid (FITUR) as UNWTO’s official partners and in collaboration with Côte D’Ivoire, this latest meeting of Investour focused on the continent’s potential on creative industries as well as on the potential benefits of diversifying the tourism sector, in particular as a means of driving rural development.

Against the backdrop of FITUR, the round table discussion explored the untapped potential of gastronomy tourism and the growing African fashion industry, particularly with regards to attracting international tourists.

In addition, a session was also dedicated to the presentation of 10 projects aiming at the development of tourism in various countries in Africa, such as South Africa, Zambia, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Côte d’Ivoire.

Read Also: Fayemi woos investors to boost tourism

 

The creative industries, including a thriving fashion industry, culture and gastronomy are all increasingly relevant ‘pull factors’

The forum came on the back of the UNWTO General Assembly unanimously approving its Agenda for Africa 2030, a roadmap and strategic framework for tourism for sustainable development and inclusive growth.

At the same time, the 11th edition of INVESTOUR was held during UNWTO’s Year of Tourism and Rural Development, with this theme the main focus of discussions between tourism leaders from both the public and private sectors.

Opening INVESTOUR 2020, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The creative industries, including a thriving fashion industry, culture and gastronomy are all increasingly relevant ‘pull factors’.

They are encouraging visitors to see another side to Africa. Investment in these sectors will pay dividends, not just for investors themselves but, equally or more important, also for African society as a whole.”

OKORIE UGURU

ONE of the cultural programmes Nigerians can expect this year is a major exchange between the National Council for Arts and Culture and the Kingdom of Belgium.

The Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr. Daniel Dorgent, categorically stated the need to come together and work on projects which will be of mutual benefit to both nations via presentation of fashion exhibitions, music and dance, art and crafts, cultural festivals amongst other noble initiatives.

The envoy revealed this while on a visit to the NCAC soliciting collaboration from Otunba Segun Runsewe (Director-General) in this regard.

Dorgent said Nigeria was a country with great potentials adding, “We stand to benefit from some of these interesting potential.”

Read Also: ‘We ‘ll make Egungun Festival a global event’

 

He was also quick to state that the project could involve Nigerians and Africans in the diaspora.

On his part, Otunba Segun Runsewe, promised to provide the necessary logistics like venue, publicity and security to ensure a successful outing.

Runsewe observed that Nigeria and Belgium have a long relationship in sports while sharing mutually beneficial economic ties with no less than 40 Belgium companies doing extremely well in Nigeria.

According to the NCAC chief, “As far back as 1984, over eleven Nigerian professional footballers plied their trade in the Belgian league. You will recall also that in the last Olympic, Nigeria and Belgium played the volleyball final.”

Speaking further, Runsewe added that, “As a body we have collaborated with Iran, Bangladesh and China. So for your exhibition, we will put in our best to ensure the programme meet international standards.”

OKORIE UGURU

 

FREEDOM Park, the iconic Lagos Island tourist, leisure and culture spot, last Wednesday hosted the 14th edition of Ones2Watch, a monthly musical gig by students of Tenstrings Music Institute.

The January edition also had performance by an American musical group, the Huntertones, from Brooklyn New York, the United States of America (USA), through the American Embassy.

The collaborative performance gave leisure seekers and regular guests  exciting musical experience.

The Huntertones proved to be at home with Nigerian music as it played songs by the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and other popular contemporary Nigerian artistes.

The group also played its original compositions in addition to tunes by top American musical superstars like Stevie Wonder.

The United State Consul Public Affairs Officer, Russel Brooks, spoke on why the embassy decided to put together the musical collaboration: “Musical groups such as the Huntertones would yearly do master’s classes as well as perform. They’ve done what they are doing here in Abuja. T

hese masters’ classes are done with local musicians. Tenstrings   performs here, so it is natural they would collaborate and perform like the one you see tonight which was well received.”

The collaborative performance, he said, was a great example of the mutual respect. Brooks spoke further: “Huntertones comes from the United States.

They played a collection of Stevie Wonder songs which the audience understood and enjoyed, but at the same time, they showed appreciation of the Nigerian culture.

“You saw them play some tracks from Nigerian music culture. That is what the exchanges are all about. You won’t say one is better than the other; one can learn from each other and appreciate the commonality between cultural activities.

I think we saw that as an example. Music will always be a tool to bring together and demonstrate what they have in common as opposed to those things that separate us.”

Brooks said the choice of Freedom Park for the music gig was to provide people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to experience the music from the two cultures: “Naturally we want to make the Huntertones’ experience available to a wide range of people.

Musicians had an opportunity to work with them during the master’s class. We also want the general public to hear from them, to see them. What better place to do that here in Lagos than Freedom Park?  It is a great choice.”

Read Also: Fed Govt markets Argungu fishing festival to global tourism investors

 

Also speaking on the event and the monthly Ones2Watch gig, the Managing Director of Tenstrings Music Institute, Mr. Emmanuel Akapo, said the idea was to bring talents from the different campuses of the school in Lagos  to come together and showcase their talents.

He continued: “For them, that is a platform to showcase everything they are learning in the school. We have been doing it and this is the fourteenth edition.

For this edition, we were contacted by the American Embassy in Lagos that they were bringing a band and asked if they could collaborate with us. So, we are doing the collaborative gig with the group from America.”

On music and talent on display, Akapo said: “ This is youth culture, a blend of everything that the young people will like-pop , afrobeat, jazz, hip hop, basically youth centred music. This is what we do.

“It has been great you know; one of the impressive things that we discovered was that they were very prepared before coming down here.

They learnt about African culture, about the Nigerian music and so introducing it to them was not a problem. It was a great opportunity to play together. It was a beautiful experience.

“The students have learnt discipline, musicianship and stagecraft from these guys. These guys are a band that have been together for ten years, right from when they were in college. For over 10 years they have been together.

Most of our students just came into the school studying, they are like three months, six months old in the school, some of them are like 18 years, 20 years, for you to ne mentored by a band that has been together for over 10 years, there is so much you can learn. So, it has been beautiful for our students.

“The atmosphere has always been lively. People come here last Wednesday of every month to experience life music. We live in a society where people are deprived of life music because it is expensive.

People are extremely excited any time they are giving the opportunity like this to listen to life music. It is always up tempo and lively.”

Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti

 

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has called on local and international investors to take advantage of the vast tourism potentials in the state to boost its economy through revenue generation.

Fayemi noted there were lots of untapped potential in the tourism sector beckoning for exploitation, saying his administration has put in place policies and legislations to create enabling environment for investment to thrive.

The governor, while speaking during inspection of the state’s tourism facilities on Sunday, reiterated his government commitment to revolutionise its tourism sector for economy prosperity.

Fayemi, represented by the Commissioner for Arts, Tourism and Culture, Prof. Rasaki Ojo Bakare said were on to make Ekiti economically viable and epicenter of development through huge investment in tourism and entertainment sector.

He said:”The essence of our identification of tourism facilities in the state is to show the world the potentials this State has for tourism business. You have seen the depth of what we have. What is left is for investors to come in and do business with the state.

“It is good to build filling stations and hotels, but tourism sites when invested in, can give you what petrol stations and running a hotel cannot give you.

Read Also: I ‘ll use my experience to grow Lagos tourism — Commissioner

“We are calling on domestic and foreign investors to come to Ekiti and do tourism business with us. The message is simple, if your ambition is to make money, come to Ekiti. We have a lot for you to key into and make money. ”

“We have Arinta waterfall, the Ero Dam, Fajuyi Amusement park, the Ikogosi warm spring, and the Civic Center edifice which contains the cinemas, art theatre, gallery and other facilities. I don’t know where something like our Civic center is in Nigeria except National Theatre in Lagos.

” In the next couple of months, EKiti will be the hub of entertainment, that is why we are calling on all potential investors to come in now and key into what we are doing in Ekiti State, he assured.

“The crime rate here is close to nothing. There are many destinations world over with serious security issues and people still go there. But, in Ekiti, you can attest to the fact the our security operatives are almost on vacation, because there is little or nothing for them to do in terms of chasing criminals. We thank God for the peace we enjoy in the state , which is an added value to the tourism business.

“Ekiti people are warm people. They receive and take care of people. It is one state that solves the problems of other people irrespective of where they come from. Already, our people naturally have the nature to receive and take care of people and that is the fundamental of tourism”, Fayemi added.

Our Reporter

The Managing Director of a US-based travel outfit, JetBlack Travel Group, Dr. Alexander Oladele has prescribed ways Nigeria can become a travel destination of choice as against the current status of the country as one of the least visited countries of the world.

JetBlack Travel Group, which has curated travels to Ghana and South Africa and other countries of the world had never curated travel to Nigeria, despite the founder of the Group being a Nigerian.

“Nigeria can become a travel destination of choice with ease. There are two things that can drive this, which we believe involve media activity as well as improvement in some of the logistical challenges in the country, Oladele said in a WhatsApp chat with our reporter.

Continuing, he said, “Artists have made their mark in the US and abroad and have significant influence on people. If they started promoting tourism in Nigeria, there is no question that the interest levels will rise immensely.

Read Also: Don’t believe stories about countries never visited – Alexander Oladele, travel expert

“The second thing is to improve the logistical challenges, which begins at the airport. Having systems in place to increase the efficiency of airport navigation, engagement with customs and even baggage claim would be a significant step forward.

“Nigeria, already has a wealth of things to do and places to go, so the issue is not necessarily the excursions. It all comes down to the logistics. Improving road conditions would also dramatically shift the experience. I believe a big opportunity awaits if the government prioritizes something as simple as better roads as tourism can truly help to stimulate an economy and bring positive exposure to a country. Because the truth is Nigeria can take over tourism like any other country. We have too much things to do. We would just need support from artists and the government to improve things like roads and airport experience. It would bring so much money into the country.”

JetBlack Travel Group was primarily founded with a view to provide more opportunity to African Americans to gain exposure to countries all over the world by way of group travel. The company was founded in 2018 and now curates trips and life-changing experiences for anyone interested in immersing themselves and learning about cultures outside of the US. The vision, was primarily for Black Americans but it has been bought into from people all over the world.

On why Nigeria has not been on their itinerary after visiting countries like Ghana and South Africa. Oladele explained thus.

“ I think there are logistical things that travelers have to be mindful of when traveling to Nigeria as against traveling to a country like Ghana. The airport for example. Oftentimes, just obtaining your luggage upon landing can prove to be difficult in Nigeria as opposed to Ghana.

“This can create frustration for many people and as you can imagine travelers. Ghana on the other hand is a bit different from what I experienced. The airport is very efficient and I didn’t notice too much of a difference compared to my domestic travels in the US. Another thing is interaction within the airport. I can get through with no problem because I know what to say and how to conduct myself when stopped in a Nigerian airport as a Nigerian. Travelers coming from abroad may not understand how to navigate that space so they can be stuck going back and forth with customs and other people within the airport. This isn’t the case for Ghana. Ultimately, I’m not saying it’s impossible to curate trips to Nigeria. With everything it’s all about knowing the right people so you can navigate easier,” he said.

JetBlack Travel Group was founded in September 2018 with a group of 52 minority professionals taken  on a culturally immersive travel experience to Havana, Cuba.

“This was done with the help of Mr. Nicholas Owen who helped connect us with key contacts both in Cuba as well as Colombia.  Following Cuba, we visited Medellin, Colombia with 45 professionals in early 2019 by working in close collaboration with Reseau Docteur, a well known minority professional network where most of the travelers came from.

“To date we have organized trips to Cuba, Colombia, Jamaica, South Africa and Ghana For 2020, we have countries we are visiting with half of those trips being sold out. Some of those countries include Bali, which to our surprise sold out in four days, France, Morocco, Spain, Thailand, Brazil, South Africa and Ghana. The goal of JetBlack Travel is to curate life changing travel experiences for members of the global community. We have a team dedicated to helping us execute our trips. The beauty of everything is that many of these individuals don’t live in the States,” Oladele added.

By Okorie Uguru

 

1.5 billion international tourist arrivals were recorded in 2019, globally. A four per cent increase on the previous year which is also forecast for 2020, confirming tourism as a leading and resilient economic sector, especially in view of current uncertainties.

By the same token, these calls for such growth to be managed responsibly so as to best seize the opportunities tourism can generate for communities around the world.

According to the first comprehensive report on global tourism numbers and trends of the new decade, the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, this represents the tenth consecutive year of growth.

All regions saw a rise in international arrivals in 2019. However, uncertainty surrounding Brexit, the collapse of Thomas Cook, geopolitical and social tensions and the global economic slowdown all contributed to a slower growth in 2019, when compared to the exceptional rates of 2017 and 2018.

Read Also: Tourism ’ll make Imo great — Governor Ihedioha

 

This slowdown affected mainly advanced economies and particularly Europe and Asia and the Pacific.

Looking ahead, growth of three per cent to four per cent is predicted for 2020, an outlook reflected in the latest UNWTO Confidence Index which shows a cautious optimism: 47 per cent  of participants believe tourism will perform better and 43 per cent  at the same level of 2019.

Major sporting events, including the Tokyo Olympics, and cultural events such as Expo 2020 Dubai are expected to have a positive impact on the sector.

By Okorie Uguru

 

TO mark its 10th anniversary, Southern Sun Hotel  Ikoyi  recently unveiled its refurbished guestrooms and other facilities. According to the hotel, total 181 guests’ rooms, meeting rooms and boardrooms were refurbished.

Speaking on the refurbished new look of the hotel, General Manager, Mark Loxley, expressed excitement on the upgrade of the facilities within the hotel, as it is a necessity for every industry player within the hospitality sector to engage in periodic facelift of their establishment in ensuring that every

experience by guests is constantly renewed with every visit.

Read Also: Yuletide: Southern Sun unveils offerings

 

Mr. Loxley stated that, being a premium and internationally branded 4-star hotel within the Lagos business community, it is imperative to consistently deliver excellent services that would drive for renewed customer patronage, guest referral and loyalty.

Such experience is one not alien to Southern Sun Ikoyi and has earned it accolades and recognitions from premium travel and hospitality sites, local industry award platforms and renowned guests in its over ten years of operation.

“At Southern Sun Ikoyi, we spare no expense in getting the best resources available in upgrading our guestrooms, meeting and boardrooms, WiFi infrastructure, security surveillance amongst other resources in consistently improving our services and ensuring that our esteemed guests have a complete hospitality experience within a soothing ambience.

This will further heighten their nostalgia for repeated visits of the signature services received exclusively at the hotel compared to none.” Mark concluded.