Akwaaba African Travel Market opens on Sunday Carnival calabar, Ghana troupe, to add colour

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Preparations for the 13th edition of Akwaaba African Travel Market (AfTM), the biggest travel and tourism fair in West Africa as been completed with the organiser opening the three-day event on Sunday, September 10, 2017 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

To spice up this year’s event, there is going to be a Chef Challenge; a culinary contest to confirm the country in West Africa that cooks the best jollof rice.

The event will be declared open by the Director General, National Council of Arts & Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe. The jollof rice challenge has already created buzz and excitement amongst the competing countries. The chef challenge is organised with the sole aim of promoting culinary tourism in Africa. It will have chefs from Nigeria and Ghana competing for the best jollof rice and a group of Nigerian chefs will compete for the best prepared rice in varieties.

Also the second Africa Travel and Tourism Conference will hold on the 2nd day the travel market with speakers and panelists who will be addressing topics and dealing with issues such as “One year of accident free commercial aviation:What did Africa do right? African airlines & profitability, the real issues, Airport perspective, regulations perspective and airlines’ perspective.

Meanwhile, the Women in Tourism conference 2017, will have Deputy Minister of Tourism Zimbabwe, Anastacia Ndlovu as guest speaker with the theme: Women in Tourism; Challenges and the Future. This session will allow leading women in tourism to discuss on the various challenges facing women in tourism and move towards curbing these challenges for now and the future.

On the third day, a special session is billed to feature Youth in Tourism Conference 2017 with the CEO of Tambollo, Sekimi Ifederu as guest speaker. This Conference seeks to address the challenges Young people in travel business face in promoting Domestic Tourism in Nigeria and also bring the youth in tourism together, as it seeks to mainstream them into the organised travel and tourism business.

Also the event will have a Wedding Destination session. The session will feature destination experts and moderated by seasoned destination wedding manager and CEO Once Upon A Destination, Mrs Seyi Olusanya, to explore top targeted wedding destinations and honeymoon spots by couple across Africa.

The travel market will also thrill audience and those who have only seen the Carnival Calabar on TV the opportunity to have a firsthand glimpse of the biggest street party in Africa.

Again as part of the spectacle of the event, the National Troupe of Ghana will also share the stage with Carnival Calabar band with performances to keep visitors entertained.

Maison Fahrenheit Hotel, one of the uniquely designed hospitality facilities in Lagos in partnership with Akwaaba African Travel Market for the 13th edition will be hosting a cocktail event at an after party for Akwaaba African Travel Market delegates.