Akwaaba: Stakeholders chat way forward for domestic tourism

The 2017 Akwaaba African Travel Fair has come and gone, but the memory will remain in the minds of all the participants. One unique feature of this year’s event is the cross-fertilization of ideas amongst stakeholders who were present at the August event. EBERE CHIBUZOR who was at the event highlights some of the suggestions and plans proffered for the development of the domestic tourism industry.

Key players in the nation’s tourism sector have used the recently held Akwaaba African Travel Fair to seek better ways of developing the local tourism industry.

Director General of National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe applauded the organisers of the fair for building and sustaining a big brand in Africa; and called for continued support for the fair.

 Nigeria, he said, would soon give oil a break, while culture would become the country’s new oil revenue driver.

He said Africa is great, but yet-to-be tapped tourism potential to help develop the economy, courting stakeholders to key into efforts aimed at moving the sector forward.

Also, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Mr. Ashimi Jamiu Adewale, pointed out that Lagos State Government is investing a lot in the area of tourism- environment and improvement in infrastructure -to promote the growth of the sector in the state.

 He said that the state would take participants on a tour of the city of Lagos to showcase the beauty of the ‘mega-city;’ and to take guests to places of interest which they never knew existed in Lagos.

Mr. Ikechi Uko, Founder Akwaaba African Travel Fair, while speaking during the opening session of the fair at the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, recently said that the need to create sustainable innovation in tourism  in Africa informed the decision to start Akwaaba African Travel Market.

Uko said that the Travel Market is a veritable platform for travel practitioners to interact with their prospective clients.

 He informed the audience that Akwaaba started 13 years ago with only six exhibitors; and that it is the only travel event that is solely private- sector driven and without hosted buyers.

He commended Lagos State Government, stressing that they have really done so well for staging a come-back at Akwaaba after a long absence.

He said that the Jollof contest was not actually a competition, but a hype to create something unique in a cuisine prepared differently in West Africa and there are about 25 versions of Jollof rice in West Africa.

According to him, the 100 Africa women in travel award became necessary considering the role of women, who constitute 70 per cent of the workforce in the tourism industry

He however, pointed out the greatest challenge facing tourism sector and how it can be solved

Speakers at the Akwaaba African Travel Market, speakers unanimously identified security issues, information management negative, canceled flights, lack of basic infrastructure among others. These challenges according to experts have never been taken serious by any government, and not until it’s addressed, they said, these problems would continue to manifest themselves.

On the solutions to these challenges, the stakeholders stated that “the most fundamental issue is the government’s attitude, adding that “they should address the issue of traffic. Experts also said government needed to delegate private sector to sell and package domestic destinations, and it would help to market Nigeria. We need more of people that are tourism inclined in government for tourism to thrive”.

They added that, to drive domestic tourism in Nigeria, there is need for national career, registration backup to create opportunity for youth, and this backup will provide employments.

According to them, “We are starting and we want the government to complements. There should be formula sharing; that means government should contract those tourism sites out to individuals; and what could be done to promote other means of transportation in Nigeria, beyond road and offshore. We need to develop sporting tourism, religion tourism, while they charged the stakeholders to encourage other aspect of tourism.

In light of the government’s failure to fulfill its side of the bargain to ensure tourism industry runs smoothly, Mr. Tony Okonjo from Lagos Tourism Office, Ministry of Information and Culture, advised the youth in tourism to take the bull by the horns youth to ensure it is promoted; and there are lot of activities to ensure domestic tourism thrive. He said media have great role to play in projecting Nigeria tourism to positively drive international tourists into the nation.

According to one of the tour operators from South Africa, government has no business in tourism, tourism for her is not about creative institution, but tourism is everything.

The youth in tourism which included Chidimma Obiekwe of Social Perfect, Pelu Awofeso of next door travel, Omololu Olumuyiwa of Travelscope, Twins tourism and Ibom Tourism. 

This was later followed by destination marketing with Nigeria’s destination wedding expert, Seyi Olusanya, moderating the session, which had such travel operators as Stella Obinwa of Dubai Tourism, Lara of Jumia Travels, Odion Chigbufue of Tour Broker International (TBI) and a representative of Travelstart Nigeria.

 The just concluded Akwaaba exhibition featured a number of line up strategies to aid African unity and to move them to the permanent site such as Ghana top chefs who were proud to offer visitors plenty of opportunity to sample many locally prepared dishes aimed at showcasing the best of Africa’s hospitality.

In this year’s event which is the 13th in the series, Rwanda Cultural Troupe thrilled guests with cultural dances as their fascinating costumes and throbbing drums made the fair colorful while Carnival Calabar performed at the event to the delight of the guests apart from the highly skilled performer, Ire D Stage Devi, who has become the signature entertainer for Akwaaba.

She put up a definitive seal to this year’s Akwaaba.  Also, a conference on Aviation in Africa with the theme: “One-year commercial aviation accident free year and the award for Top 100 African Women in Travels.

 Participants include, South Africa Tourism led Pitson Hloni , the regional manager of South African Tourism for West Africa with a base in Lagos, Nigeria, Rwanda Development Board, Nike Lake Resort in Enugu, Dubai Tourism among others.

Also, Dubai Tourism clinched the best exhibitor stand overall title with South African Tourism as the first runner up and the best from Africa followed by Ghana while Travelstart Nigeria emerged as the best corporate stand.

Meanwhile, Akwaaba Travel Market is the biggest travel and tourism in West Africa. The fair is the sub region’s largest gathering of tourism authorities, airlines, tour operators and other players in the tourism sector.