West Africa’s leading travel fair, the Akwaaba Africa Travel Market will kick-off it’s 14th edition Sunday in Lagos. The three-day event billed for Eko Hotel will have exhibitors in the travel and hospitality sector from across Africa, and a special delegation from the UAE led by Dubai’s department for Trade and Commerce Marketing.
The Ghana Tourism Authority is one of those expected in Lagos with a team that includes famous actor Van Vicker who has starred in numerous Nollywood movies.
Included in the Ghanaian team are members of the Ghana Tourism Federation and members of the Ghana Chef Association who will participate in the second edition of the Jollof Rice war with Nigeria and Gambia.
Ghana will also be hosting a special Ghana Day today immediately after the Jollof Rice competition.
Lagos State will also be hosting a special day at Akwaaba tomorrow. Lagos Day will see special cultural and artistic presentations to showcase the best of Lagos.
Lagos State has promised the organisers all needed institutional support to make the event not only remarkable but successful and at the same time memorable.
City tours will be provided for visiting tour operators to know the city better in order to market its attraction to their clients.
Lagos will have a special pavilion for the duration of the event and visitors can sample traditional Lagos cuisine during this period.
Akwaaba starts with a Nigeria Day event put together by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), and will feature exhibitions by leading tourism and travel companies across Africa, an aviation conference, a ‘Youth in Tourism’ conference, Gambia Day, Ethiopia Day, Africa Top 100 tour operators conference and awards, performances by the Carnival Calabar dance troupe, and exhibitors from Namibia, South Africa and other African countries.
Fifteen travel and hospitality outfits from Dubai are already as the leading tourism destination in the Middle East sees Nigeria as a priority market. About 300,000 Nigerians pass through Dubai every year.
The 15 companies attending Akwaaba this year include; Jumeirah, Red Apple, Khimji, Sun and Sand and Alpha Tours.
Rayna Tourism, Arabian Adventures and the Ritz Carton Dubai are also billed to exhibit, as well as the Dubai Health Authority.
