2020 Tourism Transportation Summit & Expo to target sustainable goals
Veterans in the travel and tourism trade will gather to brainstorm on possible ways in achieving sustainable transportation and tourism sectors.
The theme hitherto, Transportation Connectivity and Mobility for Sustainable Growth and Development billed to hold between April 27 and 28, at International Conference Centre Abuja.
Speaking on the annual Transport and Tourism Summit Expo 2020, Chairman Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, said, the yearly summit and expo is premised on drive by government to re-position the economy through vibrant transportation and tourism sectors,
‘‘Tourism and Transportation connectivity are critical issues relating to bridging the policies of both sectors, while reaffirming the need for developing programmes of inter-ministerial cooperation between bodies responsible for tourism and transport so as to improve and strengthen the basic conditions for the sustainable development of both industries.
‘‘The Tourism Transport Summit is created to deliberate on the complex relationship between transport provision and tourism in boosting the national economy.
The summit offers a unique opportunity to meet with regulators, decision makers, influencers, technocrats, specifiers, investors and highly engaged delegates from tourism, aviation, maritime, railways, airport operations, road transportation, national and international travel and transportation organisations, including operators in the tourism and hospitality value chain.’’
Expected to lead deliberations at the two days gathering are: The Presidency, which will shed light on the policy direction of the Federal government, while the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, with the Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, will lead discussion on transportation and tourism.
READ ALSO: Association lauds FG over dredging of Escravos channel
For the aviation trade, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, will take the lead while other presenters and keynote speakers will be drawn from captains of the sectors, is international organisations, trade associations and MDAs under the Federal Ministries of Transportation, Information and Culture.
Odusanwo also revealed that the exhibition aspect of the summit and expo will be an enriching one with emphasis on B2B and G2B, which will expose attendees to a plethora of public private partnership investment opportunities in the transportation and tourism public sectors, with companies showcasing their products and services.
‘‘It will also provide a rare opportunity for high level government officials to discuss and get insight from both domestic and international investors fostering joint ventures, domestic and foreign direct investments,’’ he said adding that:
‘‘Experts and professionals drawn from the academia as well as key players and stakeholders in the industries will deliver thought provoking papers on carefully selected sub – themes of the summit which include: Tourism in a hyper connection world; Making technology work for the tourism and transportation sectors;
‘‘Potentialities of developing regional inter-connectivity in Africa; Inter-modal connectivity, Travellersafety and security; Development of critical infrastructure; and the Ease of doing business in Nigeria -The case of tourism and transportation industries and building capacity for global best practice in the tourism and transportation sectors.
Odusanwo outlined some of the programmes slated for the summit and expo to include: Mr. and Miss Tourism Transportation Pageant, which is scheduled for March 28; The Host City Walk billed for April 25; and the Awards and Dinner/Gala Night slated for April 28 while the summit and expo will climax with a Host City Tour on April 29.
‘‘The events as a whole offers a unique opportunity for policy makers, regulators, entrepreneurs, key players in both the tourism and transport sectors of the economy, investors, numerous esteemed customers and the general public estimated at 5,000 to engage in an All-participatory discourse aimed at charting the desired synergy, collaboration and connective inter-play between the two sectors for maximum economic benefits of the country, said Odusanwo, who is also the president of the Institute of Tourism Professional of Nigeria (ITPN).
