Amachree named Father of Nigerian Tourism at Port Harcourt Bantaba

Former President of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), Chief Mike Amachree was honoured with the Father of Tourism award for his commitment to the growth of tourism industry in the country.

The award was bestowed on him at the recent Port Harcourt Bantaba, a tourism show organised by the Akwaaba African Travel Market (AfTM) held recently at De Edge Hotel Resort, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Speaking during the award, the organiser of the event, Mr Ikechi Uko said “after the role of the late Mr Matts Da Silva in the growth of tourism in Nigeria, Amachree is the next tourism icon that played a very significant role in the growth of tourism in Nigeria.

Uko commended Amachree’s drive for tourism development through massive investment in the hospitality business in the country like his newly built Port Harcourt Beach Resort, Brooklyn Tourist Centre along Port Harcourt, as well as his chain of hotels in Abuja, Lagos and Buguma his home town. The organiser of the Akwaaba and the Port Harcourt Bantaba also commended his role in galvanising tourism industry practitioners towards recognition and development in the sector.

He maintained that the contribution of Amachree to the growth of the Nigerian tourism is something that has been unanimously agreed by all tourism stakeholders.

He furthered said after the death of Mr Da Silva, the Nigerian tourism industry needs another father figure like Amachree to continue to promote and propagate the importance of the sector.

An elated Amachree, who was delighted on the award, expressed happiness for being recognised with such an honour. He used the opportunity to thank the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike for the ambitious project he has embarked upon-the Port Hacourt Leisure Park.

He said when the project is completed; it will not only attract local visitors, but also foreign tourists.