We Rejuvenate Nigeria’s Image At Global Travel Events – NANTA’s…
Mrs. Susan Akporiaye is the immediate past President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA). Akporiaye who is the lead contact person for NANTA participation at the forthcoming World TravelMarket (WTM), one of the globe’s biggest travel and tourism trade exhibition in London, slated for November 5 through 7, 2024 in this interview with OLUSEGUN KOIKI, spoke on the country’s participation and expectations.
Excerpts:
What does Nigeria and the National Association of Nigeria TravelAgencies (NANTA) stand to gain from participating at the World Travel Market (WTM), set to hold in London, United Kingdom?
The global travel and tourism trade market keeps evolving, and if any organisation or nation is serious about learning new things, and up in the know of innovation, certainly the World TravelMarket (WTM) is the place to be. In our case in NANTA, we thought through the issue about three years ago and did not wait to be told how to create and add values to our members, who are hungry to break new grounds, connect to the world and leave a legacy for generations unborn.
What is the driving force for NANTA?
The driving force has always been the love for our dear country, Nigeria and the people. Webelieve Nigeria is too big and blessed with unique cultural tourism offerings far more engaging, with narratives that the world is waiting to hear from us. It was not easy to take the gamble, the willpower to stand in a gap when Nigeria as a nation failed to fly our flag at such forums for over seven years.
Between 2006 and 2015, Nigeria was everywhere, WTM, ITB Berlin, Arab Travelmarket, Fitur in Spain and many more. However, at some point, the music stopped for us and webecame a stranger to the global tourism trade community. This hurts our business, the image of the country and our ranking in the global tourism business. While smaller and less endowed countries in Africa were consistent, Nigeria spent time explaining our absence, which we found unacceptable.
So, like Alhaji Aliko Dangote did by building a refinery to help Nigeria produce cheaper fuel, weat NANTA took to the same patriotic efforts to give Nigeria a face and a voice, which we have done consistently for the past two years, indeed this outing makes it the third time we have paid our way to promote and market our dear country at WTM.
So far, what has been the response from the association’s members?
It is incredible, unbelievable and inspiring. Take my words for it, NANTA members are the best of Nigerians you can get anywhere, ever willing to be proudly Nigerian, sacrificial, dedicated and committed to contributing to a greater and better Nigerian cultural tourism economy. To NANTA, WTM is an intentional project to help our country.
What challenges have you faced so far in preparing for the 2024 edition of the event?
So far, so good, we have prepared our members to know what to do out there in London. Our training team is one of the best in the industry, and we are not leaving anything to chance. We keep on reviewing our strategies, and even while we are out there, our major focus is to market Nigeria first, then create opportunities for business links for our members. NANTA does it in style, swag and best of Nigerian hospitality.
Initially, our challenge was the huge number of our delegates, but we have turned that around to our advantage, and in this game, the more, the merrier. It is a win-win situation for our country and I pray other associations or groups should emulate NANTA. We are happy to show love to our country; it is our creed to be Nigeria-centric.
