African hospitality stakeholders set to network at Bantaba

As the organisers of Port Harcourt Bantaba put finishing touches to the tourism and hospitality show, three foreign ministers have confirmed their attendance. They are; Timothy McPherson, Finance Minister of Acompong, Jamaica, Walter Mzembi, Tourism Minister for Zimbabwe and Alain St Ange, Tourism Minister for Seychelles. This edition of Bantaba is unique as Bantaba would be returning after two years absence but with a shift from its traditional Abuja location to the Garden City of Port Harcourt. The event will hold at De Edge Hotel Resort, Port Harcourt from March 16-17, 2017. While Syechelles and Acompong will be making a maiden appearance at the event, same cannot be said about Zimbabwe as they were well represented by the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry of Zimbabwe, Annastacia Ndlouv at last year’s 12th Akwaaba Travel Market that held in Lagos.

In Zimbabwe, tourism is recognised as an economic pillar and it is under the Value Addition and Beneficiation Cluster of ZIMASSET.

Leading globally rated experts who would be speaking at this year’s event include; Damian Cook from East Africa, an expert on e-tourism. Trainings will cover topics; eTourism in Theory and Practice, eMarketing Strategy, Web Design, Content and Management, Analytics and Conversion Optimisation, Search Engine Marketing, Relationship Marketing, The Generation Gap- Encouraging User Generated Content;Trip advisor, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Managing Multimedia, Mobile and Location Based Services. Some of the past speakers  include; Femi Adefope, former chairman, HRG and former president of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies, Harold Demuren, former DG, NCAA among others.

Bantaba is a travel and tourism speed dating event that was first held on Abuja in 2011. And it was a success story. It was an opportunity for stakeholders in the industry to come together to discuss some of the salient issues affecting the sector and the way forward. With the Akwaaba annual travel fair, the foremost West African travel fair holding in Lagos, ACCRA Weizo in Ghana, the Bantaba speed dating will offer a platform for travel trade networking in the South-South & South- East region of the country this year.