The 21st Akwaaba African Travel Market (AAfTM), the biggest travel and tourism fair in West Africa, yesterday, Sunday began at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, with over 20 countries in attendance.
AKWAABA, which is the West Africa’s leading international travel and tourism exhibition is to boost intra-African travel, trade, and cultural exchange.
At the event stakeholders, including the Promoter of AKWAABA ,Ambassador Ikechi Ukot, Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR),Dr Abisoye Fagade, other personalities that attended the August exhibition advocated for support of the tourism industry from individuals, private entities, government, strategic partners such as the Lagos State Government, Air Peace, Gambia, Wakanow, and Interswitch, and others.
They also agreed that travels within Africa a success is the collective responsibility of everyone, adding that no organization can do it alone .
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Uko, highlighted the transformative vision behind AKWAABA since its inception in 2004
According to him, “Nobody believed Africans could travel within Africa… if more than 10 per cent of Africans travel within Africa, no African airline, black person, no African destination will suffer. We need to make it louder.”
He pointed out that AKWAABA is also aimed at making Lagos Africa’s premier tourism and business hub, leveraging the growing domestic tourism momentum and expanding travel opportunities across the continent.
Also speaking, the Director General of NIHOTOUR, Fagade, reinforced the importance of professionalising and standardising tourism to drive economic diversification.
“Tourism and creative economy have been identified as critical pillars for Nigeria’s economic diversification and sustainable growth. We must organise, represent, and present ourselves to the world with one common voice,” he advised.
This year’s AKWAABA, which is the 21st featured the popular Jollof Rice ‘War’ usually fought between Nigeria and Ghana was won by Eko Hotel’s chef for a cash prize of N250,000 for the first time.
The well attended event witnessed the presence of airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines,Ibom Air, Air Peace, RwandAir, Kenya Air ( also known as KQ), Tanzania Air, Sierra Leone Air,travel and tour agencies Wakanow, Super International Travels Limited, Ajala.ng from both Nigeria, hospitality organisation such as Eko Hotels and Suites, AZALAi , Rwanda Convention Bureau, made their presence felt at the event.
Similarly, at the event, airlines, travel and tour organisations, hospitality companies , government agencies both from Nigeria and in West Africa were seen showcasing their products and also talking to buyers about the services they render.
At Day 1, yesterday, awards were presented to the deserving states and organisations.
They include:
Ibom Airline won the “Best Airline” award
– Cross River, Ekiti and Lagos states as the were awarded,“Most Active Tourism States”
– The Governor of Ekiti State, bagged the, “Tourism Governor”
– Kwara and Plateau states bagged, “Top Festival in Nigeria”
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