Nigeria, S/Africa, Tanzania, Ghana win ADGTP’s MICE promoters’ awards

African Travel Quarterly, (Atqnews.com), has unveiled a shortlist of diaspora winners of the Africa Travel 100 Global personalities awards.

The award recognises personalities of African origin, living in or outside Africa, with evidence of remarkable contribution to the development of the continent and diaspora in the area of tourism and travel, irrespective of their current nationality.

The 15th edition of Akwaaba African Travel Market (AfTM) which is scheduled to hold from September 22 to 24, 2019 at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, will also have the award event on September 23.

The event will be part of the first African Tourism Diaspora Conference 2019, expected to draw top tourism personalities from around the world to Lagos.

In a press release by the organizer  and made available to Travelpulse&MICE, explained that African Tourism Diaspora Conference is to mark 400 years of slavery. “Slavery, in the continent is a very sensitive topic that has created an uncomfortable relationship between Africa and the Diaspora. The conference is an opportunity to celebrate the merging of Africans, Americans, Caribbeans and the rest of the world during this memorable gathering expected in Lagos.

“Africa, with 54 countries and a population of 1.2 billion has an unbelievable tourist attraction. The Caribbean and African diaspora have a unique culture, rich heritage and beautiful destinations for tourists, hence the need to connect and combine these wonderful cultures and population, creating a huge global market.

“The African Diaspora Tourism Conference creates a platform to discuss, initiate, dialogue and celebrate a new relationship. However, the recognition of Africa as an encouragement for Africans and Diaspora Africans to explore, relate and live, using the African Diaspora Tourism Conference as the African platform to build a long-lasting relationship.

“Posterity will remember that the improvement was earned not by coincidence, but by conscious efforts to validate the struggles, strengths, and linkages between African descendants on a pan-African level.

“The African diaspora and Africa have the same unique culture, rich heritage and beautiful destinations for tourism and trade, therefore, there is a need to connect and combine these wonderful cultures and population as a market for mutual benefit.”

The Africa Travel 100 Awards now in its 18th year has recognised over the years leaders, industry practitioners and government officials who have promoted and improved the tourism and travel industry, using unique platforms and innovative information to grow its lots.

However, some of countries in Africa which have genuinely stepped on the pedestrian of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events) through individual efforts and government contributions made up five per cent of the MICE Promoters categories of the African Diaspora Global Tourism Personalities awards.

The five personalities voted for in the online criteria by the organizer are the governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade; organiser, Carnival Calabar, Nigeria; Mr Rick Taylor, a MICE expert from South Africa; Rabbi Kohain, Executive Director of Panafest, Ghana; Tom Kunkler, organiser of Kilifair and SITES in Tanzania and the energetic ‘Mama Bakassi’, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, the band leader of Carnival Calabar, Nigeria.

 

AFRICAN DIASPORA GLOBAL TOURISM PERSONALITIES

1. Minister Edmund Barlett – Jamaica’s Minister of tourism
2. Rosemary Sadlier – Promoting Black Cultural Heritage in Canada
3. Dr. Eugene Franklin – Chairman, Pan African Cultural Heritage Institute.

 

4. Diallo Sumbry – First Ambassador of African-America Tourism to Ghana.
5. Carol Hay – Director of Marketing Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Uk and Europe.
6. Professor Thomas Mensah – Ghanaian / American Pioneer in fiber Optic technology, Author “The right stuff comes in Black too”.
7. Fabien Anthony- Chairman & Co-Founder Pan-African Council
8. Kitty Pope – Creator, Africa Diaspora World Tourism Awards
9. Eric Martin & Kent Johnson – Founders of Black and Abroad
10. Cherae Robinson – Founder Tastemakers Africa
11. Macaulay Kalu – Chairman, African Union 6th Region.
12. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao – African Union ambassador to the U.S
13. Carolyn Anderson – Founder, Beyond All Borders.
14. Danny Rivers Mitchell – Founders Black Girls Travel Too
15. Kumi Rauf – CEO, I Love Being Black
16. Jessica Nabongo – Founder/ CEO Jet Black
17. Rozan Ahmed – Cultural Institute Creative Writer.

 

 

INITIAL SHORTLIST OF AFRICAN WINNERS

Transportation

1 Rohan Vos…….Owner of Rovos Rail (South Africa)

2. Frank Nneji…..Owner of ABC Transport (Nigeria)

 

Aviation

1. Tewolde Gabrielmariam…..GCEO of Ethiopian Airlines
2. Rahel Assefa…VP Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s Top Ranked Lady Aviator
3. Chief Allen Onyema…Chairman Air Peace, Africa’s biggest Privately Owned Airline.
4. Captain Solomon Quianoo… Africa’s Top A380 Pilot (Ghana)
5. Chief Togbe Afede…Chairman Africa World Airlines
6. Girma Wake – Former CEO Ethiopian Airline
7. Mr. Valentine Tongo – CEO, Allied Air
8. Capt. Edward Boyo – MD, Overland Airways
9. Capt. Ado Sanusi – CEO, Aero Contractor

 

 

Past African Legend of Travel Winners

1. Waturi Wa Matu…Travel Professional (Kenya)
2. Captain Desta Zeru…First African Captain of B787 Dreamliner (Ethiopia)
3. Captain Irene Koki Mutungi …Africa’s Top Female Pilot. (Kenya)
4. Kumnegger Teketel…MICE Promoter and Event Organiser. (Ethiopia)

 

Tourism Media

1. Wolfgang Thome….online Publisher, ATC News
2. Jason Njoku – Publisher & Promoter IROKO TV Nigeria
3. Nick Fadugba – Publisher African Aviation

 

Tourism Administration

1. Najib Balala, Tourism Minister Kenya and CAF UNWTO President.
2. Elsia Grandcourt, Africa Representative UNWTO. (Seychelles)
3. Alain St. Ange, Former Minister of Tourism Seychelles
4. Ambassador Dr Eriaka Bennett- Head of mission AU Diaspora office
5. Eiman Kheir, Head of Diaspora Division, Citizens & Diaspora Organisations, AU.
6. Stella Fubara, Director, International Operations Africa, Dubai Tourism.
7. Adama Bah, Founder, West African Branch, International Centre for Responsible Tourism

 

Hospitality/ facility owners

1. Ato Tadiwos Belete, Kuriftu resort (Ethiopia)
2. Tony Elumelu, Chairman Transcorp Hotels (Nigeria)
3. Oskar Ibru, Ibru Organisations leading Hospitality investor (Nigeria)
4. Professor Nzamujo, Proprietor Songhai integrated Agricultural center (Benin)
5. Mr. Samih Sawiris, Proprietor El Gouna Resort (Egypt)
6. Joe Osawaye, Managing Partner, KIZA Tomorrow Africa

 

Travel Business

1. Julie Dabaly Scott, Managing Director, Carlson Wagonlit Travel.
2. Femi Adefope, Nigeria Travel Business Owner (HRG, CWT, GHI, APG).
3. Richard Akerele, Logistics and Airlines Support Services. (ASL Newrest).
4. Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman, SIFAX Airport Logistics.
5. Sijabuliso Thabani Biyan, Board Chairman, Rainbow Tourism Group.

 

Tour Operations

1. Zainab Anseil, CEO, Zara Tours Tanzania
2. Uloma Egbuna,Tour Brokers International, Emirate Holidays, Royal Carribean (Nigeria).
3. Amos Wekesa, MD, Great Lakes Safaris Limited.

 

MICE Promoters.

1.Governor Ben Ayade… Organizer Carnival Calabar.

2.Rick Taylor, MICE Expert (South Africa).

3.Rabbi Kohain, Executive Director Panafest (Ghana).

4.Tom Kunkler, Organiser Kilifair and SITES (Tanzania).

5.Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Band leader, Carnival Calabar

 

Heritage & Culture

1. Professor Zahi Hawass, Egyptologist and Former Curator of the Heritage of the Pharaohs.
2. Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, King of Yorubas and Promoter of Olojo Festival.
3. Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Custodian of Kano walls and Durbar Festival.
4. Oba Ewuare II. Custodian of Benin Moat and Igue Festival.
5. Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, Ofala Festival.
6. King Mswati, Swaziland Reeds Dance Umhlanga Festival.
7. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, AKwasidae Festival (Kumasi, Ghana).
8. Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC).
9. Stephen Rwangyezi, Founder, Ndere Cultural Centre, Kampala, Uganda.
10. Ms Sthembiso Dlamini, COO, South African Tourism.