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  • Akwaaba lights up tourism in Lagos

    Akwaaba lights up tourism in Lagos

    No fewer than 100 African tourism practitioners were honoured with the Africa Travel 100 Global Leaders Award at this year’s Akwaaba African Travel and Tourism Market held in Lagos from Sunday to Tuesday at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was in recognition of practitioners’ contributions to the industry. This year’s edition, which is the 20th anniversary, recorded the highest number of participants from across Africa and beyond since COVID-19 pandemic, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports

    • Ignites Jollof Rice War among nine chefs

    Hundreds of critical stakeholders in the travel and tourism industry converged on Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos for three days for this year’s Akwaaba African Travel and Tourism Market. The 20th edition of the event, which opened on Sunday, attracted no fewer than 15 countries and 29 exhibitors. Some of the countries included Gambia, Congo, Kenya, Ghana, Italy, Botswana,  South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Seychelles, Rwanda, Cameroon, Namibia, Cote d’ Ivoire, Togo, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Mauritius. The Akwaaba Travel and Tourism Market, which was founded 20 years ago, serves as an essential platform for promoting and developing travel and tourism in Africa and beyond.

    In the spirit of the age-long brotherhood existing between Nigeria and Ghana, the opening ceremony was spiced with the much talked about ‘Jollof Rice War’ among nine chefs, where tourism queens across African countries were the judges.

    Nigeria’s Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John said yesterday at the Akwaaba African Travels and Tourism Market that Nigeria stands at the forefront of tourism revolution, positioned to become a leading global destination. She stated that tourism contributed 3.65% ($17.3 billion) to Nigeria’s 2022 GDP, with vast untapped potential, adding that the sector employs 1.91 million people aiming to multiply this in coming years.

    “Domestic tourism saw 3 million trips in 2023, up 20% from 2022, with 200 million potential travellers. We welcomed 1.2 million international visitors in 2023, boosting foreign exchange. Our cultural landscape boasts 1,000+ annual festivals, 1,000+ attractions, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and diverse parks and reserves.

    “Over $500 million in foreign direct investment secured in two years, projected to triple by 2028. But, the most exciting story lies in our youth.

    With 70% of our population under 30, Nigeria’s young people are our greatest asset in tourism: 65% of domestic trips in 2023 were undertaken by travellers aged 18-35,” she added.

    The Minister disclosed that Nigeria’s youth-led tourism startups have grown by 150% in the last three years, while social media engagement in travel content has surged 300% among Nigerian youth since 2021. She noted that 80% of Nigeria’s tourism workforce is under 40, bringing innovation and digital savvy to the sector.

    These young Nigerians, she said, are not just travellers but storytellers, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs reshaping our tourism landscape.

    “The Federal Ministry of Tourism has a huge role to play in leading this mission. We are committed to unlocking our potential through governance and stakeholder engagement, digital transformation and online presence, infrastructure rehabilitation, community-based tourism and skills development and educational curriculum,” the minster added.

    Speaking on the journey so far, the organiser of the expo, Mr. Ikechi Uko, recalled that until COVID-19 pandemic, travels and tours had grown enormously in Africa, noting that resilience remains the driving force that kept the project going.

    “Our resilience is fired by the fact that we have a mission to improve travels and tours in Africa. We were also supported by many willing people for the mission we laid out. Resilience was not a personal attribute in this sense because there was a job to be done and there were willing hands to support and build a travel market for Africa,” he said. 

    Uko, who tasked Nigeria to consider tourism as serious business that deserves all necessary investments and promotions, stated that some states had appointed knowledgeable people to take charge of their tourism business, which is yielding fruits.

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    “Nigeria needs to take tourism serious. All we need to do is to encourage states to appoint knowledgeable people as well as those who have passion for tourism. And the returns on investment will be worth the pain,” he added.

    To Uko, celebrating the 20th edition of the expo is not a mean feat in a sector that faced with some challenges. But, interestingly, this year’s edition stands out among the lots since COVID-19 in terms of attendance.

    Uko said: “This year’s edition is the first time the expo will attract the largest number of participants from countries in Africa and beyond. It is the first time for countries like Italy, Zimbabwe and Botswana to attend Akwaaba. Let’s hope we will recover and do better in the coming years.”     

    He disclosed that subsequent editions of the expo would be held along with other tourism events organised by him, which include Naija Seven Wonder, Chinet Aviation Expo and Bantaba Expo. He stated that the decision was informed by his realisation that Nigeria had fully woken up to the business of tourism. He stressed that it was time to link Nigeria’s travel business with the global travel business.

    Commending participants, he said: “Thank you for coming for the 20th Akwaaba. I appreciate the tourism queens from other countries, who are present here. I was spurred to start Akwaaba by the need to encourage Africans to travel within Africa, because of the huge potentialities I saw and I want to appreciate everyone who has supported me all the way.”

    Ghanaian traditional ruler, David Nana Anim, Okatakyie Nana Anim 1, who declared the travel expo open, commended the efforts of the organiser for sustaining the brand over the years.

    President of Royal Chiefs of Ghana, Anim commended the way Nigerians embraced other tourists during the expo, advising Africans to jettison all forms of division and stay united.

    “I want to commend Mr Ikechi Uko, the organiser of Akwaaba, sustaining this expo for 20 years is not a joke. As you can see that Ghanaians and Nigerians are brothers and sisters, we are not enemies. Let us take advantage of this platform to network. I am so proud of this brand and happy to be celebrating with the good people of Nigeria. Tourism should be the key driver of the economy all over the world. We must work in unity to ensure we groom the industry to yield bountifully from it,” he said

    Among the states that participated in the expo was Ekiti State, renowned as the most educated state in Nigeria. It made a great impact at the 2024 Akwaaba Travel Market by presenting a unique branding initiative that highlights its rich academic heritage. With a population of about 3.7 million, Ekiti has achieved the remarkable distinction of producing the highest number of professors in Nigeria, solidifying its status as a beacon of educational excellence.

    Ekiti showcased a stunning array of academic accomplishments that reflect the state’s commitment to education and intellectual growth. Attendees at the event were captivated by the display of academic books, the prestigious gowns worn at graduation ceremonies, and the rich history of Ekiti’s educational institutions.

    Director-General, Ekiti State Tourism Bureau, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, underscored the potential of education tourism in the state, calling on tourists, particularly Africans, to make the state their tourism destination. According to him, Ekiti State is not only known as the fountain of knowledge, but also as embodiment of huge potential for educational tourism.

    He hinted that the Ekiti State International Cargo Airport will be functional from December, to further enhance the ease of doing business. “You should be assured that when you come to invest in Ekiti, you will not be over taxed, be assured of gaining access to land and other necessity. We are hospitable, friendly and trustworthy, you won’t be defrauded,” he added. 

    Ojo-Lanre said the state was not only endowed with natural attractions for tourists but also has the highest number of professors and experts cut across various fields of human endeavour.

    “I am happy to be here because AKWAABA is the biggest platform to market tourism in the whole of West Africa. We, in Ekiti, are here courtesy of Gov. Biodun Oyebanji to sell Ekiti, not only as a pounded yam hotspot but also as a state that produces the highest number of professors in Nigeria. Ekiti is known as the most educated state in Nigeria.

    “We are here to market the state as the intellectual base of Nigeria. We are about 3.9 million in population and we have over six universities, four polytechnics, three technical colleges and several other academic institutions.

    “One of the best private universities in Nigeria, Afe Babalola University, located in Ekiti, also accomodates one of the best hospitals in Nigeria, which tells of our medical tourism endowment. So, visiting Ekiti is not just to explore the Ikogosi warm spring, the palm tree with 42 heads.

    “We want our educational tourism to be brought to the fore, that is the reason we are dressed in different academic attires to replicate what tourists can see in the state,” he said.

     Ojo-Lanre explained that the goals of the bureau was to increase tourists’ arrivals to the state, enhance visitors’ satisfaction, promote sustainable tourism practises as well as foster collaboration among tourism players. He assured investors and tourists of a conducive environment for business transactions and to unwind.

    “As we showcase our accomplishments at Akwaaba, we are also promoting the potential of our state as a premier tourist destination for those who value education, history, and culture,” he noted.

    Ekiti state pavilion stood out among the diverse presentations at Akwaaba, where participants were not only drawn to the rich tapestry of educational resources but also to the forward-thinking approach of Ekiti’s tourism strategy. The state is actively leveraging its academic strength to attract tourists, researchers and students from around the globe.

    Ekiti state’s participation in this year’s Akwaaba has set a new standard, spotlighting the importance of education as both a tool for societal growth and a key driver for tourism.

    Head of SME Segment, Enterprise and Business at MTN Nigeria, Omowunmi Olatunbosun, explained  how the telecommunications company had transformed into a technological firm, saying MTN Nigeria was ready to assist practitioners in the tourism and travel business in the area of market expansion, customer enlargement and more.

    She said: “MTN’s offerings include digital applications, market expansion, customer engagement and bespoke solutions tailored to industry problems. Implementing these solutions could reduce costs, increase productivity and drive down expenses, ultimately contributing to the growth of the tourism sector.

    “We also have products that actually build bespoke solutions depending on the problem statement in an industry, so regardless of what an issue may be, we are on standby to assist you with our technology operations.

    “And we would tell you that once you introduce this into business operations, the digital platform will actually drive down their cost to serve, by pushing their customers towards the digital application and also increase their productivity by 30%. So these are some of the bespoke solutions that we can help create within the tourism sector,” she assured.

    A delegate from Cameroon and Chief Executive Officer, Flora Travel and Tours Agatha Iyok said that Akwaaba has been a source of inspiration to her over the years, adding that her main aim in Akwaaba is to gain the professional expertise to enable her host a similar travel expo in Cameroon, which she tagged “Cameroon International Tourism Fair”.

    To her, Akwaaba had been a veritable platform for networking, gathering travel knowledge as well as a platform for fostering peace, unity and collaboration among Africans. According to her, through the platform, she has learnt resilience and endurance, urging delegates at the expo to continue to explore the platform for the improvement of their businesses.

    Convener, Youth Tourism and Hospitality Leaders Forum (YTHLF), Mr Omololu Olumuyiwa, commended Uko for raising the Nigerian tourism brand t enviable height in the last 20 years. Olumuyiwa while presenting a photo frame of Uko, urged him to do more for the sector.

    Some of the travel and tourism exhibitors present were Lux Manjani Zanzibar, Ghana Tourism Authority, Kenya Tourism Board, African Regent Hotel, Lagos State Tourism agency,  Royal Caribbean, Unicorns Tour, Hotel2fevrier, Costa Cruises, Royal Senchi, Riva Travels,  Ibom Air, Cinderella, Ethiopia Airline, Travel Tank, Uganda Airline and Carnival Calabar. Others were Tanzania Tourism, Alisa Hotels, Trip Benny, Gambia Tourism Board, Rainbow Tourism Group,

    The event also featured a ‘Jollof Rice War’ among nine chefs, where tourism queens across African countries were the judges. The contest had Chef Niychas as the winner. The three-day event, which ended yesterday, also featured award presentations to deserving exhibitors, panel discussion among others.

    As a way to celebrate excellence, some 100 African tourism practitioners were honoured with the Africa Travel 100 Global Leaders award on Monday by the organisers of the expo describing it as opportunity to recognise and appreciate practitioners in the industry who had been outstanding over the years across Africa. He commended their efforts in constantly repositioning the industry to compete with other climes. “The award is meant to recognise individuals in different categories regarding their immense contribution to the development of the tourism sector in their countries,” he said.

    One of the recipients of the award, a leading promoter of intra-African trade and travels since COVID-19 pandemic, Managing Director Deans Travel Centre Ltd, Kenya, Mr. Patrick Kamanga said the award was truly commendable as it was such a beautiful development to see his project yielding results. “Kenyans have begun to travel within Africa and getting an award for that is amazing,” he said, adding that the award would spur him to promote tourism more, having partnered some other African countries to drive the project as well. “AKWAABA has demonstrated to me that indeed Africans are one and we must remain united,” he noted.

    Among the recipients of the award were Sheikh Ahmed Nyang, Head of School, Institute of Travel and Tourism of Gambia; Alisa Osei-Asamoah, President, Tour Operators’ Union of Ghana, (TOUGHA); Dr Gabe Onah, Chairman, Carnival Calabar. Others were Fifi Rurangwa, Chief Executive Officer, The Xperts; Fatou Mas Jobe, Former Minister for Tourism and Culture in Gambia; Abubacarr Camara, Director-General, Gambia Tourism Board and Dr Adama Bah, Chairman, Institute of Travel and Tourism of the Gambia.

  • Dubai returns to Nigeria for Akwaaba

    Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) will be at this year’s Akwaaba African Travel Market, billed to hold between tomorrow and Tuesday next week.

    This, according to the department, is to continue the city’s commitment to the African market.

    In its second consecutive year of participation, Dubai Tourism is set to highlight the latest additions to the city’s entertainment destinations and shopping experiences for African travelers in the coming months. Ten partners, including Emirates Airlines, Emirates Holidays, IMG Worlds of Adventure, North Tours, Red Apple Middle East Tourism, Time Hotels, Hilton Hotels, All In One Tourism, Alpha Tours and Arabian Falcon Holidays, will join Dubai Tourism at their stand for the event.

    The African continent continues to be a strong source market for visitors to Dubai. Nigeria, in particular, was amongst the top 20 source markets in 2015, with more than 127,000 overnight visitors arriving in the city.

    Strengthening its place as the preferred destination for African travelers, Dubai Tourism aims to use Africa’s premier travel trade show as a platform to showcase Dubai’s ever-expanding family entertainment venues and retail sector.

    Speaking ahead of the event, Stella Obinwa, Regional Director Africa for Dubai Tourism, said: “Dubai continues to establish itself as a destination of choice for travelers from the African continent, holding particular appeal amongst those looking for wholesome family fun, incredible shopping deals and year-long entertainment. This year, we want to showcase Dubai’s newest additions to its family entertainment and shopping venues, which are set to welcome visitors from around the globe.”

    As Dubai progresses towards becoming the world’s number one family holiday destination, one of the key activations at the trade show will include the world’s largest indoor theme park, IMG Worlds of Adventure.

    Opened to the public in August 2016, the 1.5 million square foot, temperature-controlled indoor space offers year-round fun for all ages  spread across four themed zones: Cartoon Network, Lost Valley Dinosaur Adventure, MARVEL and IMG Boulevard.

    Also, the Dubai Parks and Resorts is expected to open its doors to the public soon.

  • Akwaaba to host conference

    The 12th Akwaaba Africa Travel Market (AfTM) will be hosting the maiden edition of Africa Travel and Tourism Conference with the objective of transferring knowledge covering travel, hospitality and aviation sectors from globally rated experts during the annual travel and tourism exhibition which holds on Lagos annually. The organizers of the event believes this new development to be very important part to the event even as they intend to enrich the experiences of both delegates, visitors and stakeholders on most current information that obtains in the practice and operations within the related sectors of the travel and tourism landscape.

    Mrs. Rita Ikechi-Uko, the organizer explained that she is ‘delighted about the prospects of this new dimension we are adding to the travel exhibition this year. We are passionate about catalyzing change in the tourism and travel landscape in Africa. This new aspect will definitely be an eye opener for many of the delegates and guest and will position Africa on the path of global relevance on most current information on that sector’. According to her, ‘speakers during the Travel and Tourism Conference will be addressing topics and dealing with issues such as ‘Travel in Africa: Aviation and Immigration a needed Symbiosis, ‘Immigration as a Catalyst for Growth of Travel and Tourism in Africa’, ‘The State of Aviation in frica’, ‘The State of Tourism in Africa’, ‘The Internet and Future of Travel in Africa’, ‘Tourism Planning: a needed tool for Sustainable Tourism Development’, ‘Hotel Standardization and Classification as a tool for Tourism Growth’, ‘Meeting, incentives, conventions and events in Africa’ among other topics’.

    The 12th Akwaaba, Africa Travel & Tourism Conference will hold on the 2nd day of Akwaaba, being October 31st and will be open only to registered travel and tourism practitioner. This is an opportunity for all knowledge seekers in area of Tourism, Travel, Aviation, and Hospitality Sector to satisfy their need. Travel and tourism professionals can register at the website, www.africantravelmarkets.com or email akwaabatravelmarket@yahoo.com, either as a hosted buyer or delegate. Delegates are expected from aviation and tourism ministries, commissions and departments, State tourism boards, staff from hospitality firms and agencies and the general public seeking to know more about travels and tourism, and for various trainings and exposures. The organizers would issue certificates to attendees at the end of the event.

  • Akwaaba: Selling African destinations

    Akwaaba: Selling African destinations

    THE Akwaaba tourism fair launched with cautious optimist 11 years ago with the aim of becoming the market place for tourism products and business in West Africa. There was a certain level of mooted pessimism on the ability of the fair to thrive considering the misadventures of those who tried to float travel fairs in the past. The list of fairs that could not be sustained included the Abuja Tourism Expo, WATTS, and many others.

    In 2015, and eleven years down the line, the Akwaaba Travel Market has not only established itself as the most consistent industry-recognised fair in West Africa, it has been globally recognised as the fair for travel and tourism business in West Africa.

    The 2015 edition of Akwaaba travel fair proved that the fair garnered acceptance in West Africa, Africa and beyond. About 15 countries from Africa and beyond were represented at the event, including United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Ghana, Gambia, Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco, Benin Republic, Liberia, Sierra Leone and others.

    The fair was declared open by former Nigerian ambassador to Spain and wife of the late Igbo leader, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu. The fair kicked off with the wedding expo.

    Akwaaba demonstrated a rebound from last year’s Ebola scare when the scourge brought the nation’s hospitality and tourism industry to its knees. It also proved that the huge population of Nigeria and the insatiable appetite of Nigerians for travelling would continue to make the country a market for many destinations. Akwaaba also proved that it has  become an authentic window into the Nigerian market. Top among the exhibitors were the Dubai tourism board who came to promote the city’s shopping fair and give Nigerians the opportunity to win free trip to Dubai.

    Akwaaba 2015 underscored the need for intra-Africa travel and the need for Africans to visit other African countries. This point was made as most top African destinations have liberal visa conditions making travel to the destinations economical, less strenuous and authentic.

    Destinations like Kenya, The Gambia and Rwanda also entertained visitors with national cuisines and cultural troupes at the event.

    Top on the list of activities at the fair was the award night where the Akwaaba Award Committee honored Kenya’s Waturi Wa Matu with a Tourism Legend Award for efforts in making East African countries a single visa country.

    The highpoint of the fair was, however, the visit of Cross Rivers State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade. He came as the special guest of honour and to promote the annual Calabar Festival billed to kick off December 1.

    Ayade was full of praise for the fair and promised support. He said: “I am here to specially witness Akwaaba. It has been part of history and culture. I have known Ikechi (the organiser) for the last 15 to 20 years. If I recall, in 2003, I won his Tourist Man of the Year – the most travelled man of the year – because I have been in tourism. I have invested in tourism and I do recognise the value of tourism, and today I am the governor of the number tourism state of this country.

    “Akwaaba has done great. Akwaaba has brought integration among African states. Akwaaba has created an opportunity for us to recognise the value of African travel. For most of us who have travelled round the whole world, but with very little travel

  • Dubai , IATA partner Akwaaba 2015

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA), in line with their objective to improving connectivity in Africa, will be partnering Akwaaba to organize the Aviation Day. The Aviation Day will hold on November 22 from 10am.

    In addition, the leading wedding destination for Nigerians, Dubai, has chosen to further re-enforce its dominance by partnering the Wedding Expo at Akwaaba. The wedding and spa day, which is on  November 22, will open the third day exhibition.

    Over the last 10 years, visitor attendance rate has grown at an average rate of 15.25% with visitors and exhibitors from over 20 countries of the world excluding 2014 (due to the Ebola effect).

    To increase the number of quality audience for exhibitors and increase visitors experience, AFTM will be launching the maiden edition of the Wedding and Spa Show which will have about 50  wedding planners in attendance with  a live band, fashion show and lots of giveaways to be won, including all-expense paid vacations to exotic destinations and hotel stays. The event comes up on November 22.

    Adefunke Adeyemi, IATA Regional Head for Member (Airline) and External Relations for Africa and the Middle East will be sharing a recent study and 12 nations report which shows how full air connectivity across those 12 countries would generate an additional $1.3bn in GDP, over 155,000 new jobs and numerous other socio-economic benefits at the Aviation Day.

    The event will also feature other guest presentations, attendance is by registration. The event is open to all travel trade professionals.

    The Gambia, the smiling coast of Africa, will be showcasing its tourism bounties on the 23rd at The Gambia Day as well as market roots festival and wedding destinations at Akwaaba.

    African tourism is set to renew its passion for West-Africa @ Akwaaba. South Africa is the leading African destination for West-Africans and the African powerhouse is not slacking its drive to be the premium destination in the world.

    Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’ leading Airline  with the largest fleet of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, will be showcasing their new destinations at Akwaaba. Routes include Japan, Korea, Philippines, Ireland, Los Angeles (USA), Cape Town (South-Africa), Gaborone (Botswana), Goma (Congo) and Yaoundé (Cameroun) ET now flies to 53 African destinations.

  • Ebola: All exhibitors at Akwaaba to wear black armband

    The Organisers of West Africa’s leading travel fair, Akwaaba, have spoken about their plans for this year’s event amidst the fear of Ebola Virus Disease (EVB) in the region.

    According to the organizer, Rita Ikechi Uko, “We are deeply touched by the high number of victims both dead and infected and do sincerely commiserate with the people of the region that have suffered the disease and the attendant stigmatization that is currently ongoing against the besieged countries. It is our belief that Africans must stand by their brothers in this hour of need ,this is not the time to abandon anyone and  race to the bottom as we are currently doing.

    “Akwaaba 2014 offers an opportunity to stand in solidarity with our industry which is currently the most ravaged in the region. With airlines most of them exhibitors at Akwaaba losing billions of Dollars due to EVD, and most hotels in the region empty, Akwaaba 2014 will be an opportunity to rekindle hope in travel business. With gloom all over the travel and tourism sector it is not time to roll over and die. The tourism community must fight back, we have to continue in providing services to the best standards expected of us even if it is to a few persons. As organizers, we want to reassure our exhibitors that we will observe all the rules established by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Lagos State government for such events. These rules include use of Thermometer Guns to scan all visitors, the use of hand Sanitizers for visitors and frequent hand washing. We will also restrict attendance to only registered persons.

  • Uganda to unveil tourism assets at 2014 Akwaaba

    One of Africa’s emerging destination,  Uganda, will be showcasing in West Africa for the first time during the 2014 Akwaaba travel fair from 26 to 28 of next month, in Lagos.  Uganda will be joining other big African tourism players South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda and Gambia in their aggressive marketing plans to increase the number of visitors to their countries from West-Africa by showcasing at the most successful and largest travel platform in the region.

    With the growth of Intra African travel and incessant and  travel advisories from Western nations, marketing within African is becoming a regular feature for most forward looking tourism boards.

    Tourism which is Uganda’s main export, fetched over $1.4billion in 2013/2014 financial year (Central Bank of Uganda). This growth could be attributed to intensified marketing and  promotion of the country both domestically and Internationally. Exhibiting at Akwaaba this year, the Pearl of Africa, as the country is called,  will be inviting visitors to experience this pristine destination.

    According to the organizer of Akwaaba, Mrs. Rita Ikechi Uko, “the participation of top destinations at Akwaaba, shows the fair’s relevance within the region. These are countries whose economies thrive on tourism and are experienced at marketing and promotion of tourism because they have been doing this for a long time. We are expecting more tourism stakeholders to key into this by not just participating at Akwaaba but also to network and learn from these tourism boards”.

  • Wine tasting at Akwaaba 2014

    NIGERIA is accepted globally as one of the biggest wine markets in the world consuming more than many African countries put together. The emerging lifestyle merges with the growing middle class and it’s taste for global products.

    Tourism is one of the biggest beneficiaries of this new class of Nigerians. It is this travelling class of Nigerians that  consume the wine and Champagne.

    To further organize the products and align them with their patrons, the organizers of Akwaaba African Travel Market will this year dedicate its Hospitality Day, October 28, to wine tasting. The wine tasting day is a new addition and will offer both sellers and buyers the opportunity to engage with the travelling public.

    The  Akwaaba: African Travel Market is  the only annual international travel fair in West Africa, drawing attendance from over 15,000 delegates from over 20 countries worldwide and the largest platform to meet with travelling public, airlines, hotels, restaurants, tour operators, travel agents, state tourism boards, foreign trade and tourism sectors and similar industry suppliers across Africa.

    The wine tasting event which will hold on  Oct 28 from 10am-6pm at the Convention Centre of the Eko Hotels and Suite, Victoria-Island, Lagos will provide wine distributors and manufacturers from all over the world who are looking to increase their business in Nigeria and across Africa, build and increase brand loyalty and patronage, the opportunity to showcase their products to the travel community/ wine lovers in Nigeria and Africa.

    The wine tasting event will feature a diverse selection of top wines and spirits from all over the world.

    Mrs.Rita Ikechi Uko, the organizer of Akwaaba African Travel Market said: “Nigeria is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and the biggest Champagne market in Africa.

    “We are always looking for ways to create and add value to our clients as well as improve visitors’ experience at our events. So, the wine tasting event was born out of the need to create a proper platform for bringing together wine buyers and sellers from all over the world, an audience Akwaaba has consistently attracted over the years.

    “ With ‘big taste experience’, we hope to not only provide a platform for wine dealers and producers to sample their wines, but also provide an atmosphere where guests can sip, savour, mix and mingle, while enjoying the best of what Africa has to offer, and it is a project we intend to continue and build in the  coming years”.

    Attendees to the fair would have the opportunity to sample different top wines and spirits from the Exhibiting Wine Dealers and Manufacturers Association from all over the world.

    The Akwaaba: African Market, which holds in October every year, will feature Exhibition, Aviation and Hospitality Day, African Business Travel Association (ABTA) workshop and various country/state day celebrations where the culture, food and destinations will be showcased.

    This year’s event will hold from October 26 to 28.

  • Akwaaba: Uniting Africa

    Akwaaba: Uniting Africa

    For nine years, the Akwaaba Africa International Travel Fair has served as the major sign-post in the annual tourism calendar of Nigeria. During these years, Africa has gathered to talk tourism business.

    The Akwaaba has become a vehicle for the much-vaunted integration, both regional and continental. It has also offered the platform for people from all over Africa to savour cultures form other climes.

    Rwanda was the most visible. Though a little country, it used the Akwaaba to announce their emergence at the major tourist destination and hub in Africa.

    The Akwaaba kicked off last Sunday. It was declared opened by the Gambian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Angela Colley-Iheme. Other guests present at the opening ceremony included the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC); Mrs. Sally Mbanefo; Alhaji Munzali Dantata, the Director General, NIHOTOURS; Chief Mike Amachree, former president, Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN); airlines executives and many others.

    The exhibitors were mostly from the hospitality and airline business. There were also a couple of exhibitors from the tourism auxiliary service sector. Akwaaba, this year, did not only offer the platform for network, but also bring in top operators in the travel industry to discuss challenges facing tourism in Africa. Top among these speakers was the founder of the African Business Travel Association (ABTA).

    This year’s edition is no exception. There were participants from more than eight countries from within and outside Africa. They included Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Rwanda, South Africa, Jordan, Kenya and Ethiopia, Seychelles and Benin Republic.

    Andrew Asari-Boafo is the Director of Sales of Ghana’s Movenpick Ambassadors Hotel. He spoke on his experience this year: “For the fact that we are coming for the third one means that we have benefitted from the previous two. Akwaaba has been very beneficial to us. It has opened a lot of doors for us into the Nigerian market. We have a big chunk of our business coming from Nigeria.

    “So, coming to Akwaaba always gives us pleasure as it gives us a lot of opportunities to meet a lot more people and get more clients. This particular one has been exciting. We have got new clients, new tour operators who are interested in bringing more people to us. It has been very interesting. Generally it has been a very good experience.”

    Asked what the Nigerian market means to Movenpick, he said: “The Nigerian market is very important to us. It covers the leisure, telecommunication industry, banking, the oil sector. 40 per cent of our business comes from Nigeria. This market is a huge one for us. It is a market that we will continue to grow. It is just a 46 minutes flight to Accra. So, it makes it much easier for us and our Nigerian clientele.”

    He further said:“The last three years has been very good. Business has gone up, our conference facilities are good. So , we are getting a lot of conferences, local, regional and international conferences. In the areas of wedding and social activities, we are doing extremely well. We have a lot of Nigerian weddings taking place over there.

    “What is new about Movenpick? What we are doing now is that we ‘ve started entering into this new food and beverages services. On Thursdays and Fridays by the pool- side, we have the barbecue, apart from the club on Fridays and the very famous Sunday Brunch.

    “Gradually, we are introducing new things. You know Nigerians like food, that is very important to them. So, we are introducing a lot of Nigerian cuisines in our food and beverage services. We have put Nigerian dishes in our menu because when they come, they specifically asked for Nigerian meals. So, we try to provide that. We are looking at even getting a Nigerian chef to come and train our catering staff. A Nigerian will say: ‘Well, put me in any hotel, but make sure my food is good’. We currently have eba, amala, egusi and few other ones. That is why we want to bring in a Nigerian chef to come and help us in that area.”

    Emmanuel Kwesi Mantey of the Royal Airport Hotels Group in Accra also added his thought on the fair: “ Currently, we have two franchises: the Holiday Inn, Accra and the Atlantic Best Westin Hotel, Takoradi. We also have apartments; we call it Holly Flats; it is one of the biggest rows of apartments so far in Accra. We give them out for long and short term stays.

    “This is our second time of coming. It is a very good platform to reach out to Nigerian market and the world at large. This year, the impact is there. We’ve talked to a few people that I think are going to give us business. I think it is okay, but the organizers need to do a lot more in the area of publicity. We did not review the pre-event press and don’t know how the post-event coverage is going to look like. I think they should go the extra miles to get other corporate entities who will walk and do some more serious business.

    “The fair has been on for years, which shows it is adding value to the industry. Other fairs did not last up to that. So, for an organization coming this far, that means it is good. It just needs to be improved upon.

    “Let me talk of the Best Westin brand in Takoradi. In Ghana, all the five-star hotels were formerly in Accra. They were not in other regions. This is the first time we are having a five-star hotel in Takoradi. We have a lot of products and services. We have the biggest conference facilities in Ghana. We can do a 1,000 to 2,000 theatre sitting capacity. We can also have 1,500 to 2,000 persons in the pool area. Our guests have access to the golf course, tennis court and a five-aside pitch. The good thing is that all our rooms have sea views.”

    The managing director of the Wakanow, Mr. Obinna Ekezie, was full of praise for the orgsnisers of the fair. He believes that the government needs to create better environment for tourism to really thrive.

    “It is very good. Ikechi always does a very good job every year, putting together key stakeholders and members of the tourism sector in Nigeria and Africa. It is a wonderful event to me, affording us the opportunity to meet with the people you work with. Even for the states that are making efforts to promote tourism, it is an important platform for them to showcase what they have and make the general public have a better understanding of their products.

    ”We all know that the tourism industry in Nigeria is still in its infancy, but things like this always help in stimulating interest and getting investors to come and invest in the sector. The key thing for us is that we need to understand that tourism is a major sector that needs to be developed in Nigeria for Nigeria’s continuous growth.

    “We know how important oil is to the economy, but we also know that tourism is a sector that can dominate and really take a bigger share of the GDP growth of the country. Countries like the United Arab Emirates has done well to transfer their economy from oil dominated to tourism, and most of the first world countries in the world, a lot of their economies have tourism as a big part of their GDP. It is a sector that cannot be ignored if you want to grow,”Ekezie said.

    Summing up this year’s Akwaaba, the chief officer, Mr. Ikechi Uko, said all the company set out to achieve had been achieved, marrying the exhibition with conference.

    The 2013 Akwaaba has been a success, and many are hoping the organizers will continue to build on the success, especially as African and the world tourism industry has come to recognize Akwaaba a meeting point for tourism in the sub-region.

     

  • SAT showcases as Akwaaba begins tomorrow

    South African Tourism, the national tourism agency responsible for the marketing of South Africa, is showcasing at 9th Akwaaba Travel Market in Lagos, collaborating with the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) to encourage business travel and tourism between South Africa and Nigeria.

    South African Tourism will host its annual trade workshop event which is one of the leading attractions of the Akwaaba African Travel Market at the Eko Hotel Expo Centre in Lagos scheduled to hold from October 27 to 29.

    The trade engagement presents a one-stop avenue for South African product owners and suppliers to meet with Nigerian traders in order to create a win-win business partnership for both parties and enhance travel trade between both countries.

    South African Tourism booth will showcase exquisite varieties of South African travel products and offers for the Nigerian travellers at the Akwaaba African Travel Market exhibition.

    South African Tourism will be leading about 20 South African products, including hotels, tour operators, provincial tourism boards and the rainbow nation’s national airline carrier, South African Airways, to the trade workshop.

    Already confirmed to attend from the hotel sector are Tsogo Sun, Sun International, Protea Hotels, Rezidor Hotel, 54 On Bath and Intercontinental Hotel.

    Leading tour operators in South Africa, including Syavaya Tours, Legend Tours and Welcome Tours, will be connecting with Nigerian travel traders at the trade workshop.

    The tourism board of Johannesburg, the commercial hub of South Africa and Kwazulu-Natal Wildlife will showcase their rich tourism and travel attractions to potential buyers.

    South African Tourism will also host a cocktail networking function for the participants to wine and dine in an atmosphere of relaxation to round off the trade workshop.

    The annual South African Tourism trade workshop is part of the trade marketing strategies that have built a robust business travel and tourism relationship between both countries over the years.

    According to statistics from January to June this year, 40,097 Nigerians visited South Africa, representing an impressive 15.9 per cent increase from the figure of Nigerian travellers to South Africa last year during same period.

    As a result, Nigerians are gradually and fast taking South Africa as their leisure and business travel destination of choice.