Akwaaba travel show sells Nigeria as tourism destination

By Jimoh Babatunde

Stakeholders in the African travel and tourism sector gathered in Lagos for three days to brainstorm on ways to promote and improve the travel tourism sector in West African at the annual Akwaaba African Travel Market which  took place recently .

Akwaaba, according to the organisers of the event is a popular word in the West Africa which translates to welcome in Ghana and Cote D’ Ivoire. Over the last nine years, Akwaaba has become the most important travel marketing platform in the region drawing 7,000 to 10,000 visitors from over 20 countries.

Declaring the exhibition open, the Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, said Akwaaba gives people in the tourism industry room to interact with hoteliers, travel and transport industry operators and to share their individual experiences.

Individual experiences

While commending the efforts of the organiser, Mr. Ikechukwu Uko, the minister described Akwaaba as educative event which broadens people’s knowledge of the field of tourism. “It is equally an avenue for tourism investors to share ideas and proffer ways to develop tourism in Africa,” she said.

Mr. Ikechi Uko, the organizer of the exhibition said that the  annual Akwaaba Tourism Fair has become an  avenue to market Nigeria as a tourist destination. Uko noted that the country has enormous tourism potential that could be showcased to the international community.

“The fair has opened the door to Nigeria and Africa tourism market and served as a platform for exchange of cultural and tourism potentials among participating countries. “ Uko said.

Speaking on the low turn- out of foreign participants at this year’s fair, Mr. Ikechi Uko attributed it to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that broke out last July. ”Out of over 15 countries that indicated their interests to participate in this year’s Akwaaba, only five countries were able to make it.

“The other countries were discouraged because of the outbreak of EVD in West Africa, “ he said. Uko urged the nation’s tourism practitioners to package and market domestic tourism destinations properly.

“Some practitioners do not have the fundamental knowledge of tourism; therefore, it has become difficult for them to market the destination.

He said the industry can only be developed when the nation’s tourism practitioners get it right, noting that Akwaaba fair would always serve as the best avenue for tourism practitioners to learn and understand the workings of the industry very well.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s tourism credentials as a leisure destination were put on full display at this year’s AKWAABA travel and trade show. During the three day show, the South African Tourism team pulled out all stops to actively promote South Africa’s unique value proposition as a leisure destination to the West African traveller and trade. Nigeria and South Africa have enjoyed a long-standing and fruitful partnership.

The two countries have many times spoken of their resolve to strengthen relations and work together for the long-term betterment of an economically vibrant African continent. Travel and tourism has been identified as a key driver in unbridling this potential.

South African Tourism used its time at AKWAABA to meet with the trade, present to them the destination’s value proposition and, most significantly, cement deals which will see South Africa’s destination offering bolstered in the consumer space.

Thulani Nzima, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of South African Tourism said the travel trade are a critical component to the work that they do.

“During AKWAABA we officially announced our partnership with the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) who will help boost tourist arrivals growth from Nigeria to South Africa by developing a range of packages to suit the Nigerian traveller.”

Significant milestone

This partnership, he says, is a significant milestone and one which we believe will go far in reaffirming our commitment to bolstering the economic relations between Nigeria and South Africa. It will also give us access to a wide audience of discerning travellers who contribute significantly to South Africa’s growth.

“Africans should stand together and continue to educate the rest of the world. If we want to continue attracting business and welcoming tourists from all over the world, it is our responsibility as the collective African trade industry to manage these perceptions swiftly.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/akwaaba-travel-show-sells-nigeria-tourism-destination/#sthash.wR4K1XJU.dpuf

NIHOTOUR plans partnership with Lagos on tourism

National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has disclosed plans to partner Lagos State Government to develop the tourism and hospitality industry in the state.

Director-General of the institute, Mrs Chika Balogun, who stated this in an interview in Lagos said that the partnership would help to reposition tourism industry in the state, adding that the collaboration would be driven by the institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations in the state.

According to her, Lagos State has enormous tourism potential that are yet to be tapped.

“The partnership will serve as an eye-opener for both partners and investors on tourism assets in the state.

“There are so many areas the government is not looking at, but with this teamwork with the institute, it will move the industry to the next level,” she said.

She expressed optimism that the synergy would attract local and foreign investors to the state, who would rejuvenate its tourism and hospitality sector.

“This will be achieved by training government officials, private and public investors, operators and other stakeholders on tourism development and its investment opportunity.

“The institute will also engage in Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) to develop the industry,“ Balogun said.

She added that the partnership would also create investment opportunities in the state and encourage classification of hotels.

“I believe in teamwork and I am familiar with some challenges facing the industry.

“I believe that very soon we will make headway and move this multi-million Naira sector forward in the areas of training and capacity building, “ she said.

The director-general promised to improve on condition of service of the institute to enable it meet its responsibilities, especially quality service delivery.

“These we will achieve by introducing professional, technical and specialised trainings as well as post-graduate courses in the travel, tourism and hospitality fields,“ she said

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/nihotour-plans-partnership-lagos-tourism/#sthash.hnDOItAI.dpuf

Agreement underlines need to prevent use of stolen passports to cross borders

As part of efforts to enhance international travel security, Qatar Airways has signed an agreement with INTERPOL to use the world police body’s I-Checkit system to screen the passports of its passengers against INTERPOL's Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database.
With the agreement, Qatar Airways becomes the first full-service airline to use I-Checkit, joining regional low-cost carrier AirAsia in piloting the INTERPOL initiative which allows select partners in the travel, hotel and banking industries to send their clients’ travel document information to be screened against the SLTD database.
Qatar Airways is proud to become the first international full-service airline to join the INTERPOL I-Checkit programme. We have always placed great importance on the safety and security of our passengers, in addition to offering them an unrivalled service experience,” said His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways.
“We viewed INTERPOL's I-Checkit as an opportunity to further enhance our stringent safety and security measures and are actively working with the organisation to implement the system. Qatar Airways is committed to remaining at the forefront of such Industry initiatives and joining I-Checkit is a reaffirmation of that commitment,” he concluded.
Through I-Checkit, partners such as Qatar Airways send the passport numbers of passengers via secure channels to be compared against INTERPOL’s SLTD database, which contains more than 43 million records of lost or stolen travel documents from 168 countries.
"We are proud to be working diligently with Qatar Airways to put this additional passenger security measure in place. We are confident that once Qatar Airways begins screening the passport numbers of their prospective passengers against INTERPOL’s SLTD database, each and every person flying with the airline can be secure in knowing that these additional steps to ensure their safety have been taken," said INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble.
“After years of waiting for more governments to take the necessary steps to protect their citizens and visitors from individuals using stolen passports to cross borders, I-Checkit has become a vital tool to engage the private sector in the global fight against transnational crime and terrorism.”
The Head of INTERPOL highlighted the tragic disappearance in March 2014 of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and the presence of two passengers who used stolen passports to board the flight as a turning point which has caused government officials, terrorism experts, law enforcement, the media and private citizens to take notice of the very real danger presented by individuals travelling on stolen passports.
In this regard, Secretary General Noble applauded the recent decision of the Council of the European Union calling on its member countries to systematically check all passports against INTERPOL’s SLTD database at their borders, and to ensure their records of lost and stolen passports are promptly shared with INTERPOL.

NTDC at WTM

Left- Right : Director,  Dams & Reservoir Operations,   Federal Ministry of Water Resources ,   Mr Regional Ikpeawujo;   Director General ,  Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation  (NTDC) Chief . Dr. ( Mrs.) Sally Mbanefo and  Honourable Commissioner,  Ogun State Ministry of Culture  & Tourism , Yewande  Amusan  in a group photograph  at the Nigerian Stand  during the 2014 World Travel Market holding  at the  Excel, London

Transcorp Hilton Abuja Wins World Travels Awards Again

Named Nigeria's Leading Hotel and Nigeria' Leading MICE Hotel 2014

Transcorp Hilton Abuja, for the second consecutive year, has been honoured with the prestigious award   of Nigeria's   leading Hotel 2014 and   Nigeria's Leading MICE Hotel 2014 awarded by the World Travel Awards.   ''To receive two prestigious awards in key categories from World Travel Awards is a great honor and achievement to our hotel and all our team members'' said Etienne Gailliez, General Manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja. 'I am delighted that our commitment to the consistent delivery of world class experience to all our guests has been recognized once again by a reputable industry watchdog. I have no doubts that the awards will spur us to work harder and attain even greater heights of excellence''

The recognition from the World Travel Awards arrived on the heels of the successful hosting of the 24^th World Economic Forum by the hotel and a renewed drive for excellence by the owning company, Transcorp Hotels Plc and hotel management.

Receiving the awards on behalf of the hotel at the Nigerian Pavilion at the World Travel Market in London, Valentine Ozigbo, MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, said '' I am pleased that the outstanding work and dedication of the team at Transcorp Hilton Abuja has been recognized once again internationally. The awards to the hotel are an assurance that our efforts at meeting and exceeding the expectations of our guests are appreciated by industry watchers''

The Director General of Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NT DC), Dr. (Mrs.) Sally Mbanefo who was also present at the award presentation ceremony, in her remarks said “The World Travel Awards to Transcorp Hilton Abuja for the second consecutive year further reinforces the position of the hotel as a travel destination where tourists can experience world class facilities and service standards. The NTDC is proud to be associated with the hotel’s achievements’’

World Travel Awards exists to recognize, acknowledge and celebrate excellence in travel tourism and hospitality, which is why Transcorp Hilton Abuja was chosen by fellow professionals across the globe for a World Travel Award. Winners of the World Travel Awards are decided on by an independent vote from 167,000 travel agents and tourism experts in over 200 countries. The awards cover twenty-three countries ranging across the Indian Ocean to the Pacific.