Bethia Idoko, Nigerian travel influencer, cultural advocate, and founder of the Queen Bethia love Foundation, played a leading role at the recently concluded CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
She was specially invited to serve as moderator of a high-level panel at one of the official side events, marking her 95th country visited.
The panel discussion, titled “Roots and Routes: Travel, Heritage and Economic Integration,” explored how tourism and cultural exchange can be leveraged as powerful tools for diplomacy, economic integration, and people-to-people connectivity between Africa and the Caribbean. It was a timely and resonant conversation that underscored the shared history and future potential of both regions.
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The panel featured esteemed thought leaders from across the diaspora:
1. Sheikh Ahmet Nyang, Head of School, Institute of Travel and Tourism, The Gambia
2. Lisa Shakespeare, Africa-Caribbean Tourism Specialist
3. Dr. Muyiwa Adeboye, Diaspora Tourism Advocate and Cultural Curator
4. Dr. Carey Wallace (TBC), Representative of the Caribbean Tourism Board
Bethia expertly guided the session with insight, cultural sensitivity, and her signature global lens drawing on her experiences traveling to 95 countries and her advocacy for visa-free access and safer travel for African women. Her moderation facilitated meaningful exchanges on reconnecting the African and Caribbean peoples through heritage tourism, cultural diplomacy, and collaborative tourism development.
In a notable highlight of the event, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, was in attendance and delivered a speech, emphasizing the importance of deepening ties between Africa and the Caribbean through cultural and economic platforms such as this.
The event was an initiative of NTT Global and the motherland reconnect Initiative, spearheaded by Elizabeth Agboola , a passionate advocate for African mobility and diaspora reconnection through travel and cultural collaboration.
Reflecting on the experience, Bethia shared:
“It was an honor to moderate a discussion that touches the heart of what I do—bridging cultures through travel, empowering African voices, and creating platforms that foster real human connection. Jamaica was my 95th country, and I couldn’t have asked for a more meaningful setting to mark that milestone.”
Her participation in this landmark panel further solidifies her position as a leading voice in travel diplomacy and as a dynamic connector between Africa and the world.
