The organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market has announced that all is set for the 13th edition of the annual event, which is the biggest travel and tourism fair in West Africa. The three-day event will be held at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos from 10th September to 12th September.
In this year’s event, there is going to be a Chef Challenge; a culinary contest to confirm the country in West Africa that cooks the best jollof rice.
The event will be declared open by the Director General, National Council of Arts & Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe.
“The jollof rice challenge has already created buzz and excitement amongst the competing countries. The chef challenge is organised with the sole aim of promoting culinary tourism in Africa. It will have chefs from Nigeria and Ghana competing for the best jollof rice and a group of Nigerian chefs will compete for the best prepared rice in varieties.
“The 2nd Africa Travel and Tourism Conference will hold on the 2nd day of 13th Akwaaba, speakers and Panelist during the Travel and Tourism Conference will be addressing topics and dealing with issues such as “One year of Accident free commercial aviation. What did Africa do right?†African Airlines and profitability, the real issues: airport perspective, regulations perspective, airlines’ perspective,†the organiser of the Market, Ikechi Uko said.
According to him, the President /CEO, Sabre Network NMC, West Africa, Mr Gbenga Olowo who is the guest speaker would be speaking on the topic: “2016: Commercial Aviation Accident Free Year. What Did Africa Do Right”, a topic that is germane to the African aviation sector. Olowo is an Economist and Business Administrator with uninterrupted cognate experience in Aviation sector.
Uko said the Women in Tourism conference 2017, would have Deputy Minister of Tourism Zimbabwe, Anastacia Ndlovu as guest speaker with the theme: Women in Tourism; Challenges and the Future. This session will allow leading women in tourism to discuss on the various challenges facing women in tourism and move towards curbing these challenges for now and the future.
The third day, he said, would feature Youth in Tourism Conference 2017 with the CEO of Tambollo, Sekimi Ifederu as guest speaker.
“This Conference seeks to address the challenges Young people in travel business face in promoting Domestic Tourism in Nigeria and also bring the youth in tourism together, as it seeks to mainstream them into the organised travel and tourism business. Also the event will have a Wedding Destination session. The session will feature destination experts and moderated by seasoned destination wedding manager and CEO ‘Once Upon A Destination’, Mrs Seyi Olusanya, to explore top targeted wedding destinations and honeymoon spots by couple across Africa. As the demand for tourism increases for various reasons, weddings, honeymoon and family get-a-ways cannot be ignored as a pull factor for tourism,†Uko also said.
