By Yunus S Saliu
A Gambian tourism doyen, Sheik Tijan Nyang has rated the Akwaaba African Travel Markets expo in Nigeria as one of the events in Africa that provides boundless opportunities for change and growth not only in West Africa but Africa as a whole.
In West Africa, Akwaaba African Travel Market remains one of the six events that have brand equity in the likes of PANAFEST for culture in Ghana, FESPACO in Burkina Faso for movies, Dak’Art in Senegal for visual arts, ROOTS International Festival in The Gambia, Carnival Calabar in Nigeria and the famous Akwaaba African Travel Market expo also in Nigeria.
This year’s expo scheduled for 22nd to 24th September, taking place at the Eko Hotels Convention Center Lagos, Nigeria will mark the 20th edition of the event. The Special Guest of Honouris the Nigeria Minister of Tourism, Honourable Lola Ade-John.
Commenting on this event from his office in The Gambia, Sheikh Tejan Nyang, Head of the Institute of Travel and Tourism Of the Gambia (ITTOG), who is also one of the listed awardees from the Smiling Coast of Africa in the Leadership category classed Akwaaba African Travel Market as an event that promotes and markets West Africa to the world, “and the organizers have been consistent in hosting it since it started about two decades ago.”
He noted that attending the event is an opportunity for Destination Gambia and other tourism destinations to tap from the goodies of the expo where thousands of professionals from different tourism destinations not only in Africa but across the world meet annually to discuss and network for opportunity purposes.
Sheikh Tejan Nyang who is a household name in the Gambia tourism industry urged tourism stakeholders in the Gambia to always attend this one of the biggest events in Nigeria and if possible “Let’s The Gambia authorities/stakeholders also tap experience from the Carnival Calabar Festival which is just like the Rio Carnival.”
He reiterated that the famous Akwaaba African Travel Market attracts many people annually not from only the African continent but including other continents, and also “attending all these festivals and events I’m sure that we will be able to capture the Nigerian market without stress.”
Notwithstanding, regional tourism, he encouraged Gambian stakeholders not to limit it to the Nigerian market alone when it comes to regional tourism, but another part of West Africa too.
However, Sheik Tejan Nyang wishes the Gambia government to recognize the importance of the Akwaaba African Travel Market in the region in making use of its opportunity while paying tribute to the founder of the expo Ambassador Ikechi Uko, “He is a real Ambassador of The Gambia Tourism Industry, he promotes the Gambia Tourism Industry and I hope we should continue using his services for the promotion of The Gambia in Nigeria and the South Region.”
“Congratulations to all winners of the Africa Travel 100 Global Leaders 2024 Awards, and especially winners from Destination Gambia which included Fatou Mas Jobe, The Gambia Former Minister of Tourism and Culture, Malleh Sallah CEO of Djelieba Group, Gambia was listed under the Hospitality category, Sheikh Tejan Nyang, Head of Institute of Travel and Tourism Of the Gambia (ITTOG) and Dr. Adama bah, the Board Chairman of Institute of Travel and Tourism Of the Gambia (ITTOG), Aboubacarr S Camara, Director General of the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) listed under the Leadership category, Chief Adama Njie, Director of Tourism Promotion Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) UK Office was listed under Marketing category while Yunus S Saliu, a Tour, Travel, and Culture Writer listed for Media category.”