The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) will on Friday head to London with high powered 70- man trade professionals to sell Nigeria to the world, targeting tourist dollar inflow to the country.
This is just as the Federal Government is benumbed about the poor exchange profile of the Naira to other major currencies.
The World Travel Market(WTM),the biggest tourism, technology, and travel market opens in Excel, London this weekend, with a record global tourism trade community in attendance, particularly with frontline tourism nations with clever and clear amazing tourism stories to tell about their countries.
This outing is NANTA’s second solo outing to give Nigeria a voice, face, and presence in the global tourism market without a single penny from the Federal Government and even diplomatic niceties.
The NANTA trade team is made up of independent and private travel and tourism specialists, bonded by patriotism and selflessness in making a case for a change in perception by the global travel world about visiting Nigeria.
With prominent foreign airlines doing over 15 flights weekly in and out Nigeria with full capacity, NANTA, as the critical bridge to these airlines’ inventory marketing in Nigeria, believes that Nigeria is advantaged as a destination based on this reality of connectivity.
President of NANTA, Susan Akporiaye, who is leading the national tourism armada with the association’s First and Second Deputy Presidents, Alhaji Kabiru Maiwada and Dr. Chima Ihe, disclosed that the effort is all about Nigeria and Nigerians, adding that it is easier for global tourism trade traffic influencers to buy into visit Nigeria campaign by NANTA, which is a private Nongovernmental Organisation( NGO).
“We are focused on this agenda even though it’s the federal government tourism agencies that should spearhead the effort and since we don’t understand the direction of the government for the industry, we at NANTA decided to stand in the gap for our nation and people,” she explained.
On the expected gains from the global tourism trade show,Akporiaye noted that increased tourism traffic into Nigeria at this time will help boost the naira as cultural tourism products and services will not only be cheaper for foreigners visiting the country but that it will also expose our members to how best to market Nigeria leveraging on the presence of established destination marketing companies.
“With our government working hard to stabilise on all fronts and expected ease in obtaining our visa, we shall endeavour to share the true experience of visiting Nigeria with tourists and trade buyers, particularly those interested in our cultural tourism diversity, telecoms and agricultural services. We believe that serious tourism traffic into Nigeria can oxygenate the naira back to life,”Akporiaye further explained.
The Vice President, Eastern Zone of the association and Head, Logistics for the NANTA Expedition, Mrs. Chinyere Umeasiegbu, stated that, but for visa issues, the entire members of the association will have been part of the Nigerian tourism marketing agenda, commending the
commitment and show of love for Nigerian tourism by NANTA members.
“We are counting the days and to God be the glory for the courage and commitment of our members to this national assignment,” Umeasiegbu added.
The Vice President, Lagos Zone of NANTA, Yinka Folami is also on the train, a very strong mobiliser for the association’s critical presence at WTM.
He was a rock solid influence on NANTA’s new run on the Nigerian cultural tourism economy.
The World Travel Market
runs from the 6th of November to the 8th of November, 2023 and will be held at its famous and iconic location in Excel, London.
Over 100 countries and private trade businesses from all parts of the world will be in attendance.
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