Acting CEO of GTA Mr Akwesi Agyeman promised that Ghana will sign a long time MOU with the organisers of Accra Weizo to draw in more Ghanaians to attend Accra Weizo. He congratulated the organisers for Sustaining the event for 4 years.
Ghana he says will be in Lagos for Akwaaba African Travel market in September but that he will wants more Ghanaians to attend Next year’s event slated for June. “We will mobilise more Ghanaian Travel professionals to come network with international participants Next year to grow Weizo.”
Ghana Tourism Authority hosted the guests to Ghanaian food and drinks at the exposure of its See Ghana Eat Ghana and Wear Ghana to the guests. Earlier 42 Tour Operators and media from outside Ghana that arrived before the others were taken on a Tour of Volta and Eastern Region of Ghana. For 3 days they were taken to the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary and the Akosombo Dam. After a day at Ho they went down to Akosombo town for a night before leaving for Accra. Members of the team spent 3 days touring the 2 regions before joining others in Accra.
75 foreign delegates participated in the 2 day expo and were joined by over 200 Ghanaian Travel professionals.
To the Organisers the Support from the Government of Ghana is Timely as they have invested in Ghana Event over 4 years in order to develop the platform. According to Mr. Ikechi Uko of Akwaaba African Travel market “GTA is providing the Support structure for the success of Accra Weizo. We are pleased that for the first time Ghanaians outnumbered the international delegates and most guest didn’t come to receive awards.
We deemphasized the awards and concentrated on Knowledge sharing and people stayed from Morning till evening. We are happy with the fallout of the Panels. The high powered Aviation panel delivered the first international discussion on interlining between Airlines from Different West African Countries. We also like the controversy that came out of the Hospitality panel on whether we have cooks or Certified Chefs in West Africa. For the First time Culinary Tourism is trending and conversations are going on about Chefs who are usually ignored. The Conversation will yield positive outcomes for the industry and that is our goal.”
The 4th Accra Weizo received a new participant from Nigeria which is the Government of Lagos State. Lagoons the biggest and Richest state in Nigeria and its Economy is the 6th Largest in Africa. The new push to position Lagos as the Tourism hub of West Africa and the Entertainment Capital of Africa was put on display in Ghana.
Lagos State mounted an exhibition along with 20 other firms at the 2 day event that took place at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. A well-attended travel event was supported by the Ghana Tourism Authority.
Lagos was represented by Mr. Babatunde Anann and Mrs. Adanma Oni both Directors at the Ministry of Tourism Lagos. The Lagos Tourism Video was played on the screen for most parts of the first day of the expo during breaks.
The second day of the event was dedicated to Tourism as both Lagos and Ghana Tourism Authority used the day to showcase their Tourism Assets. Earlier the Carnival Calabar Dancers and the Ghanaian Carnival queens performed for the 2 days of the event.
Mr. Anann in his presentation told the Audience about the changes the new Administration has wrought in Lagos. Mrs. Oni invited them to visit Lagos and to participate in the One Lagos Festival in December.
Lagos becomes the second Nigerian state to Market its Tourism abroad after Cross River State and its Carnival Calabar.
Introducing Lagos State at the event Mr. Ikechi Uko organiser of Accra Weizo said” Lagos is the place to go for Shopping and Partying. Fashion and Religion are strong draws for one of Africa’s most exciting city. With over 10 daily flights by AWA, Arik, Air Peace, ASKY, Rwandair and Air Namibia 50 minutes at most you are home to fun in Lagos. Lagos is tapping into the desire of Africans to know Lagos. Ghana Kenya and South Africa are the lowest hanging Tourism fruits for Lagos. Outside UK and the Diaspora Market in the USA, Ghana is the best place to Market”
