The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has partnered the Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA) to improve inter-Africa travel.
Mrs Susan Akporiaye, President of NANTA, during a media briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, said to actualise the plan, the two bodies would be hosting an international travel and tourism conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.
She said the conference slated to hold from May 4 to May 7, was also to promote Africa as a destination for tourism and unite the continent.
According to her, the conference will bring together industry players across African countries to market their tourism products as well as brain storm on how to ensure seamless travels across the continent.
“We are glad to inform you that for the first time in Africa, two industry associations, NANTA and TOUGHA, endorsed by South Africa Tourism (SAT), will be hosting a hybrid multi layer tourism industry conference in Johannesburg.
“This conference is birthed out of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda.
“NANTA and TOUGHA would assemble the best faculty from the University of Johannesburg on tourism enterprise and related businesses.
“This is to help define and determine the immediate and future drive of the industry, its profitability and challenges.
“We would have two panel sessions, one day workshop that will involve government and private sector participation, exhibitions and lots more,” she said.
Akporiaye noted that the conference was also an attempt to quell South Africa Xenophobia tendencies and encourage brotherliness with citizens from all African countries.
She explained that going forward, NANTA would allow a country to host the conference for minimum of 2 years consecutively before moving to another country.
“At this point, we need to drop the borders, we do not need the borders in Africa for travel businesses to flourish.
“Already, we have people from Cameroon, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe indicating interest to attend.
“At the end of this all, we pray we are able to get positive resolve on cumbersome visa procurement processes and other challenges.
“We must appreciate and commend the management of South Africa Tourism (SAT).
“Particularly their teams in Nigeria and Ghana for the special interest in our growth through knowledge based exposures and assistance to our clients wishing to visit, trade, and immerse in South African hospitality and culture,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Yinka Folami, Vice President of NANTA, Lagos office, said the conference which would be certificated, was open to individuals, organisations, and agencies in Nigeria and Ghana.
Folami noted that it would be opened particularly to those with the interest of impacting positively on the growth and sustainability of the various value chains in the African cultural tourism economy.
