The former Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency, NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren said in Abuja at the Bantaba event 2012 while receiving the award of Travel Personality of the year that West Africa should be a single domestic Aviation Environment integrating, Safety regulations, Airline connections and airports.
Dr. Demuren has since left NCAA but his vision for the seamless integration is still far from reality.
This vision of a seamless travel experience is the main focus of a one day travel event slated for the 3rd of July at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana. The event is to be hosted by the Honourable Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Ghana, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare.
With the theme “Seamless Travel in West Africa” Weizo is targeted at the founding vision of Ecowas to create a region of one people integrating and growing together. It is coming as ECOWAS celebrates 40 years of existence.
With a population of close to 300 million people in 15 countries and a fast growing economic block, West Africa started the regional integration race in Africa since the 1970s but has since lagged behind East and Southern Africa.
With over 40 airports the economy of the region can sustain a viable Travel and Tourism industry.
Weizo seeks to bring Travel professionals together to share knowledge and work out a future path of success for the region.
The special adviser to the UNWTO Secretary general, Mrs Rosette Chantal Rugamba will deliver a keynote paper titled “Regional Blocks as Tourism Destinations”.
Rosette started the tourism projects of country Rwanda including the famous Gorilla naming ceremony “Kwita Izina”.
The Aviation session will have two presentations one by Adefunke Adeyemi, Head, IATA for Africa and the Middle East “Intra Africa Air Connectivity, the Facts Challenges and Benefits” and the second paper will be on “Passenger Friendliness and Airport Infrastructure in West Africa”.
The Aviation presentation will be treated by a panel made up of Airline CEOs, Aviation heads and Airport managers from across West Africa.
Other speakers at the event will include, Head HRG and GSA for Delta Airlines in Nigeria, Mr Femi Adefope a well respected Travel expert and he will speak on “Trans-border Investment in Travel Business,” Mr Frank Nneji, MD ABC Transport, Nigeria will speak on “Doing Business across West Africa”.
The other paper to be presented at the event will be on the ‘Role of the Private Sector in Regional Integration”
Accra Weizo will bring together over 150 major players in travel and tourism in West Africa and will also honour 20 outstanding Travel Personalities for their roles in building Trade across the Sub-Region.
The event is in partnership with the Ghana Tour Operators Union (TOUGHA) and will feature private tours to Accra and Cape-Coast on the 2nd day.
Weizo is an event put together by the organizers of Akwaaba; African Market, Lagos-the only International Travel Fair in West Africa recognized by UNWTO and Abuja Bantaba, Abuja-Nigeria.
By Ikechi Uko
Promoter Weizo Accra
