16th Akwaaba African Travel Market Goes Virtual

The 4th edition of the African Travel and Tourism Conference is scheduled to take place as a virtual event on September 21, 2020.

Organized as part of the annual Akwaaba African Travel Market, the leading Pan-African Tourism Expo, the African Travel and Tourism Conference is in its fourth year. The theme for this year's conference is: “Is MICE a Viable Pathway for Tourism Recovery in Africa?” But because of the global pandemic and the lockdown of the travel and tourism space the organizers have chosen to organize a virtual event on the Zoom Platform. The 3-day Conference will still hold only as Conferences. The Youth Tourism Conference will hold on the 22nd while the Diaspora Engagement will hold on the 23rd of September. The MICE Session on the 21st will have tourism experts from the leading business tourism destinations in Africa. The Special Guest of Honour will be tourism guru and presidential candidate in the Seychelles elections, Alain St. Ange. The session will be hosted by Ambassador Ikechi Uko, seasoned travel and tourism expert and organizer of the event. A statement by Ambassador Ikechi Uko on behalf of the organizers had this to say: "Is the Future PHYGITAL? Now the heavyweights of African Tourism will be speaking on behalf of the continent to answer questions about the future of MICE in Africa. The top 3 countries for M.I.C.E in Africa are South Africa, Rwanda and Kenya. In West Africa, Ghana is the market leader according to ICCA annual rankings. We have put together the best brains on business tourism in Africa. Practical experience and savoir faire on the job to find a path to growth and profitability. With the emergence of a global lockdown and the rise of remote conferencing will there be a return to Face to Face encounters? Are we Going Phygital which is the Hybrid between Physical and Digital? Sisa Ntshona the CEO of South African Tourism, Lilly Ajarova the CEO of Uganda Tourism Board, Akwasi Agyeman the CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Jacinta Nzioka National Coordinator Kenya Convention Bureau, Nelly Mukazayire CEO of Rwanda Convention Bureau are the Main Cast for the conference.

Africa's Leading MICE Expert Rick Taylor will be the Lead Speaker and Alain St Ange the Former Minister of Tourism for Seychelles and a Presidential Candidate in the Seychellois Elections will be the Special Guest. Experts say humans cannot survive without congregating while others think otherwise that conferences and event will help fight loneliness and depression. How does Africa play in the new Normal?" Akwaaba African Travel Market, the leading Pan-African Tourism Expo is the first travel and tourism fair in West Africa. Scheduled to host its 16th edition this year, Akwaaba has attracted leading experts and stakeholders in the travel, tourism, aviation and hospitality industries from different parts of Africa and the world.

In addition, several important dignitaries such as Presidents, Minister, Ambassadors and High Commissioners from different parts of the World have graced the annual event. The 2020 Akwaaba will be hosted as a virtual event. The African Travel and Tourism Conference Zoom Conference is scheduled for Monday, September 21, 2020 at 1400hrs Nigerian time; 1600hrs East African time. For registration, contact: exhibition@aftmtravel.com, or akwaabatravelmarket@yahoo.com