ITTFA, the International Tourism Trade Fairs Association, welcomes a new member this month, Akwaaba, African Travel Market based in Lagos, Nigeria.
ITTFA is dedicated to the continual development of the travel trade show industry, increasing participation and setting high standards across Europe and worldwide. Recent changes to entry requirements and the annual fee structure mean that membership is more accessible to smaller and developing shows, as well as more established ones. This underlines one of the primary goals of the Association as it strives to improve travel trade exhibition standards across all markets and help maximize the benefits for both visitors and exhibitors.
Akwaaba; African Travel Market is the only international Travel Fair in West Africa, a population of 270 million people with 15 countries, numerous airports and the largest number of travellers in Africa. The event takes place on 23-25th October in Lagos, Nigeria, running its 6th edition and held at the end of October each year. Over the last 5 years Aftm has become the most important travel marketing platform in the region drawing attendance from over 20 countries, including 12 foreign Airlines and leading African hotel chains. It is open to all as it is “where Africa meets the world”. Akwaaba has been designated by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) as the official travel exhibition in Nigeria.
The success of AfTM attracted the presence of the former President of the Gambia Sir Dawda Jawara, the former Secretary General of the British Commonwealth Sir Emeka Anyaoku and the former Vice president of Nigeria, Sir Alex Ekwueme as guests among over 10,000 visitors that attended the event last year. It has become a major fixture in the events calendar for Africa, listed by UNWTO as the only travel event in West Africa. Africa Travel Association (ATA), based in New York, has also signed Akwaaba as its partner event in Africa.
“The organizers of Akwaaba are delighted to belong to the well respected and influential group of global exhibitions represented by ITTFA,” comments Mr Ikechi Uko, CEO of the organising company. “This membership offers us an opportunity to network, learn and operate amongst shows of the highest standards. It offers us the opportunity to provide our audience with the combined experience of our peers in the association thus bringing to the shores of West Africa global best practices in the exhibition business. Membership of this elite group will further position AfTM as an international event that takes place in Africa, integrating the African Travel practitioners into the global community.”
Tom Nutley, Chairman of Reed Travel Exhibitions, has been chairman of ITTFA since he helped to establish the original association in 1992. “Growth markets are an integral part of the future development and success of travel exhibitions and I am delighted that we have this opportunity to build stronger relationships with West Africa. These new growth markets are balanced by the traditional, strong European markets in which we have some excellent tourism trade shows. Encouraging new and improved relationships in the international tourism trade fair industry is a key objective for the association which will further enable all of our members to maximise the tremendous opportunities worldwide”.
Director of the Secretariat, Wendy Walker, comments on the appointment, “We are pleased to welcome Akwaaba to the association. Forging stronger relationships with shows in markets such as Africa is a key objective for the association and will further enable all of our members to maximise the tremendous opportunities worldwide”.
For more information on ITTFA and all our members, please visit, www.ittfa.org
