For those who have only seen the Carnival Calabar on television, Accra Weizo offers the top players in tourism in West Africa the opportunity to have a firsthand glimpse of the carnival, which no doubt, is the biggest street party in Africa and the best tourism event in West Africa. Professor Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River State and chairman of Weizo will be leading a high powered team from Calabar to Accra, Ghana for the one day event. The governor’s entourage includes: Florence Ita Giwa , chairman, Carnival Calabar Band Association, Gabe Onah, chairman, Carnival Calabar, among others.
As well, South African Tourism, the biggest destination in Africa with tourism receipt of about $13 billion will be presenting its huge repertoire of destinations and displaying the best of South Africa at Accra Weizo. Also, Ethiopian Airline will be joining the five star cast at Weizo. The airline is Africa’s largest airline, the 18th most profitable airline in the world, and the 6th best airline in the world. Ethiopian Airlines, a Star Alliance member flies to over 90 global destinations and 51 stations in Africa. Just on the back of its new routes to Japan, Philippines, Ireland and Los Angeles, it has acquired five new B787 Dreamliners in addition to 13 in its fleet.
Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko, the flagship of Sierra Leone, will be showcasing at the Weizo event. A quality hotel of international standards, Radisson Blu is one of the leading hotels in West Africa.
Africa World Airlines (AWA), the Official Airline for Weizo, is adjudged “Domestic Airline of the Year” by the Ghana Tourism Awards and is Ghana’s fastest growing regional airline commanding a sizeable share of the domestic traffic and operate flights between Accra and Lagos. It has also offered chartered services for renowned world leaders including the President of Liberia.
Holiday Inn Accra Airport, another participant at the event, is located next to both the airport and the thriving new business district – an area that has quickly become one of the most popular in the city. Designed specifically to meet the high expectations of both international business and leisure travellers, the hotel has hosted statesmen and celebrities from all over the world. Its restaurant offers guests continental and local cuisine, while the superb conference facilities can seat up to 250 delegates. The hotel is inviting guests to come experience its unique hospitality as they host a cocktail for Weizo’s International Delegates from Nigeria on July3, 2015 from 6pm-8pm.
Accra Weizo is taking place on July 3, 2015 at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel Accra. It seeks to bring to fruition the dreams of Harold Demuren, former, director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency, NCAA, who said in Abuja at the Bantaba event in 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. 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 Accra Weizo, a one-day travel event, to be hosted by Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Ghana. 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 aviation session will have a presentation by Adefunke Adeyemi, head, IATA for Africa and the Middle East on “Intra Africa Air Connectivity, the Facts Challenges and Benefits.” 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 include, Kwabena Adjei, founder of Kasapreko, makers of the fast selling Alomo bitters drink, Femi Adefope, head, HRG and GSA for Delta Airlines in Nigeria who will speak on “Trans-border Investment in Travel Business”, Frank Nneji, MD, ABC Transport, Nigeria, who will also speak on “Doing Business across West Africa”. A paper on hotel classification and standards in West Africa will be presented by Sheik Tejan, head of School, Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia, while another paper will be presented 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. It will also feature an exhibition of travel products. The event is in partnership with the Ghana Ministry of Tourism, backed by GHATOF, Tour Operators Union (TOUGHA), National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA), Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), IATA, and GCAA. It will feature private tours to Accra, Kumasi and Cape-Coast on the second 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.
