By Emeka Anokwuru
Organisers of Accra Weizo in Ghana have released a list of the Top 100 Tourism Personalities who will be celebrated at this year’s event. The honour is a checklist of “Who is Who” in the travel and tourism industry in the region. This is part of the vision of Accra Weizo, the ECOWAS travel and tourism fair to promote seamless travels in West Africa. The presentations will hold on May 26, 2017 at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra. This 3rd edition is organized in partnership with ATQNews.com and Travellers Magazine. The tourism personalities in West Africa are individuals who have distinguished themselves and or have impacted positively on the travel and tourism sector across the sub region. It also include those whose efforts have stimulated and helped to achieve their individual country’s tourism goals and forging interactions among stakeholders and customers across the region. Dein Gbabo, Project Manager of AKWAABA African Travel Market, speaking about the event, explained that, “In West Africa, the people in travel business need to network. Each country in the region works in silos. This situation led to the need to create opportunities to network and stimulate the great potentials and benefits that lurk within travel business among the countries in the region. “Based on these, we are profiling for the Balafon Awards and Top 100 Tourism Personalities Awards, and selections are done annually,” she added.
The is looking to create networking platform for players in the industry to meet the products, companies and personalities who drive travel business in the sub region. This presents a great opportunity for people and organizations seeking to do business in West Africa. There will be five sessions in the first day beginning with focus on ECOWAS, where panelists will discuss, “Partnership that works; the West African Private sector in partnerships. The Aviation session is on “West Africa as a Domestic Aviation Environment”, the Tourism Session will discuss “West Africa as a single Tourist Destination”, and Tour packaging session on how to package inbound and outbound tours. The evening will close with the presentation of Top 100 personalities in West Africa and BALAFON Awards 2017. Already invited are globally rated speakers, panelists and special guests who will speak at the various sessions; including Dr. Enobong Umoessien, Acting Director Private Sector Directorate ECOWAS, Stella Christaine; also from ECOWAS, Dr. Harold Demuren former Director General Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Director General Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Chike Ogeah; Vice president SAHCOL, Managing Directors of Air Cote d’Ivoire, Air Peace and Medview.