** Fresh from the just concluded NANTA and TOUGHA tourism conference in Johannesburg, the gains acknowledged were captured in focus at the Africa indaba tourism market. There was an agreement that Africans should stop bickering and open their borders so that it’s people can trade without sweat and prosper. To these expectations, South Africa Minister of Tourism, Patricia de lille, promised to work harder on clearing the cobwebs on visa on arrival regime for Nigerians, Kenyans and Egyptians.
** we reported here last week from Johannesburg that Nigeria’s Susan Akporiaye, President National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (Nanta), was in top demand at the indaba conclave due her very inspiring call for Africa to Africa Tourism initiative. Indeed, the bottom line agreement is that the initiative should target African Union leadership and expressively make sense out of Africa continental free trade regime by 2030 or die a natural death.
** Still on nanta President, she told creative Nigeria exclusively that she would return home and pep up Nigeria city to city visits, geared towards citizen mobilization to tourism resources appreciation, reimaging and visitations
*** South Africa tourist arrivals between January and December 2022 showed impressive growth prospects with about 5.8 million arrivals, 4 million of those arrivals from African countries . This is about 152.6 % in bound increase for South Africa compared to January to December 2021.
No nonsense and tough talking Tourism Minister of South Africa, Patricia de lille says, she hates egocentric tourism officers who clog the line of positive growth of the sector and visits such persons with sledge hammer. ” I can’t stand such persons and do not hesitate to cut them to size.”
Still on Patricia de lille, she joined the call for a new Africa Tourism collaboration, noting that there must be a special event to bridge the chasm of culture, language, and geography among Africans.
** South Africa Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron motsoaledi was nowhere to found during indaba tourism discuss forums as visa issues to South Africa was on top burner and being the chief driver of visa policy implementations, all eyes desiring to have a shot at him, went watery as the mystery man did not show up.
*** Elcia Grandcourt, Regional Director, United Nations World Tourism Organisation ( Africa Region) struggled to clear cobwebs of allegations on poor implementation of tourism matters concerning African nations by unwto at open tourism sessions at Indaba.Grandcourt, who led other unwto team to Nigeria to a failed Africa Tourism ministers conference boycotted by Nigeria’s private sector organised body, Federation of TourismAssociations of Nigeria( ftan), confessed that unwto cannot force any African nation to adopt its tourism intervention blueprint but willing to help where unwto is given opportunity to advise and suggest solutions.
** Hilda Baci, 27 years old Nigerian chef, has set a new world record on the longest cooking marathon by an individual. Her cook a thon,( marathon) held in lagos, showpieced party JOLLOF RICE COCONUT RICE, NATIVE Rice, Turkey STEW, PEPPERED FISH , and more. She clocked 100 hours for over five days without sleep. As at the time of putting this report together on Tuesday, the Guinness WORLD RECORDS disclosed it will review her feat before recognising her officially. That is not withstanding, as Nigeria’s outgoing president MuhammaduBuhari salutes her courage and for putting Nigeria on the global gastronomy map. Baci cooked over 110 meals and which was savoured by 2, 785 persons. The world record longest cooking marathon was held until the new Baci cookery feat by Indian chef lata Tandon. WHO IS NEXT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND POSITIVE TO HELP SALVAGE NIGERIA’S BATTERED IMAGE.