By Lateef Fowewe
The 21st Akwaaba African Travel Market (AAfTM), the biggest travel and tourism fair in West Africa, began on Sunday in Lagos at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, spotlighting West Africa’s leading international travel and tourism exhibition aimed at boosting intra-African travel, trade, and cultural exchange.
As stakeholders, including Ambassador Ikechi Uko, convener of the event, Dr Abisoye Fagade, Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), among others called for support of the tourism sector from individuals and government, key partners including Lagos State Government, Air Peace, Gambia, Wakanow, and Interswitch, lit up the event with strong participation.
Uko, while speaking at the opening ceremony emphasised the transformative vision behind the market since its 2004 inception.
“Nobody believed Africans could travel within Africa… if more than 10% of Africans travel within Africa, no African airline, black person, no African destination will suffer. We need to make it louder,” he said.
Fagade, whose voice reinforced the importance of professionalising and standardising tourism to drive economic diversification, said: “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”.
The event featured a popular Jollof Rice War, with Eko Hotel’s chef winning N250,000 for the first time.
Over 20 countries are participating in this year’s exhibition with several African airlines already showing their presence at the fair.
Awards presented on Sunday include:
– Ekiti, Lagos, and Cross River States as “Most Active Tourism States”
– Ekiti Governor as “Tourism Governor”
– Kwara and Plateau States for “Top Festival in Nigeria”
– Ibom Airline as “Best Airline”
The market also aims to further establish Lagos as Africa’s premier tourism and business hub, leveraging the growing domestic tourism momentum driving billion-naira hotel revenues and expanding travel opportunities across the continent.
