The 20th edition of AKWAABA Africa Travel and Tourism Market opens in Lagos, with over 15 countries participating and at least 29 exhibitors.

The countries include Gambia, Congo, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Seychelles, Rwanda, Cameroon, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Mozambique and Mauritius.

Ghanaian traditional ruler David Nana Anim, Okatakyie Nana Anim 1, who declared the travel expo open, commended the organiser’s efforts to sustain the brand over the years.

Mr Anim, the president of the Royal Chiefs of Ghana, also commended how Nigerians embraced other tourists during the expo, advising Africans to jettison all forms of division and stay united.

“I want to commend Mr Ikechi Uko, the organiser of AKWAABA, sustaining this expo for 20 years is not a joke. As you can see, Ghanaians and Nigerians are brothers and sisters; we are not enemies. Let us take advantage of this platform to network.

“I am so proud of this brand and am happy to be celebrating with the good people of Nigeria. Tourism should be the key driver of the economy all over the world. We must work in unity to ensure we groom the industry to yield bountifully from it,” he said.

Ikechi Uko, the expo organiser, said this decision was informed by his realisation that Nigeria had fully woken up to the tourism business. He noted that it was time to link Nigeria’s travel business with the global travel business.

A delegate from Cameroon, Agatha Iyok, Flora Travel and Tours CEO, said AKWAABA had inspired her over the years.

Ms Iyok said her main aim in AKWAABA was to gain professional expertise to host a similar travel expo in Cameroon, which she tagged ‘Cameroon International Tourism Fair’.

She said AKWAABA had been a veritable platform for networking and gathering travel knowledge and for fostering peace, unity and collaboration among Africans.

(NAN)