Introduction; Our Gratitude
As we approach the end of another dynamic year, I, alongside members of the National Executive Council say a big thank you to every member for support, for encouragement, for cooperation, and for true professionalism within our community.
As an administration committed to accountability and transparency, we take up the responsibility to report to the trade, on our collective milestones within established timelines. Building on our First 100-Days in Office report, we are pleased to present our 2024 Year-End Report. This report highlights the significant progress made in advancing our trade and outlines our future plans/commitments as we invite your feedback to inform our collective efforts and drive for further success.
Our Milestones – September to December (Quarter 4) 2024
- Committee Activation
Following the inauguration of NANTA Committees at the first 100-Days event, all eight (8) NANTA committees were fully activated, with key officers (Chairmen and Secretaries) of each committee duly elected and terms of reference including core mandates for respective committees clarified. Committees are now fully functional to explore and implement initiatives that are consistent with the overall goals of NANTA - Partnerships and Collaborations
To address the systemic issues that conflict with our three-pronged vision for the trade – Fair Play, Protection of our Market, and Strengthening NANTA – we have forged strategic partnerships with key stakeholders:
• NANTA-FCCPC Partnership: We signed and implemented a landmark partnership with FCCPC, to aid our trade and align consumer protection practices with global best practices; putting Consumerism (consumer welfare, consumer rights, and consumer protection) at the heart of our dealings with principals/trade partners and within our trade
• IATA Consensus: We established a consensus with IATA to provide training and capacity development for our members on ADM and Refunds under the BSP Framework.
• African Collaborations: Though our engagements with our African counterparts reveal that Africa awaits Nigeria to address and extinguish some market anomalies like cross-border trading and other anti- competitive practices, NANTA has further strengthened relationships with African Associations such as the African Business Travel Association (ABTA), Association of Eastern and Southern Africa Travel Associations (AESATA), Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA), Cote d’ Ivoire Association of Travel Agents (CATA) to align market directions/focus, enhance intra Africa development through travel and tourism; by deploying uniform strategies/interventions through collaboration. By this, we have expanded our frontiers of influence and impact within Africa
- NANTA – Gambia Tourism Board (GTB)
Upon invitation from the Gambian government, modalities for formal partnership with the Gambia Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism in Gambia are in process to finalize. Discussions that will initiate plans for our International Travel and Tourism Conference (ITTC) 2025 are ongoing as the conference is aimed at equipping our members professionally and promoting intra-Africa development through travel and tourism - Advocacy, Interventions, and Stakeholder Engagements
Understanding our role as first level regulatory body for the travel trade, we have intervened through courtesy visits and formally documented communications with various stakeholders like the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, NCAA, FCCPC, FAAN, CBN, IATA, Airlines and GDS companies on key concerns that affect the Nigerian market, with a view to firmly stating our informed position, providing recommendations, and seeking redress/interventions. Some of these issues for which we intervened and advocated both in writing and physical engagements include:
• USD Sales in Nigeria by Emirates Airlines: Our position being that this is anti-competitive; it excludes the Naira (our sovereign currency) and a major segment of our trade. We have respectfully advised this position to NCAA, CBN, IATA, and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development requesting to also accommodate ‘Naira based transactions”
• Engagements with NCAA and Government: We maintained open communication channels with NCAA and Government to address trapped funds with the suspended Dana Airlines providing a detailed schedule of affected businesses to ensure refunds. Both formally and physically. NCAA, on behalf of the Government, has assured the travel community of her ongoing actions to ensure that due refund is made to all affected members and customers
- Communication on the position of the Travel Trade in Nigeria
With respect to anti-competitive practices and key concerns in our market such as cross-border trading (eroding our market through its circumventing and extractive nature), lingering disparity between fares published online and on GDS, YQ/YR and NUC Imbalance, GDS Abuse/Fictitious Bookings, Refund Policies, and ADMs; NANTA has formally communicated (in writing, through closed and open engagements) to all industry stakeholders stating our position and making recommendations. We have begun to see responses, and we will continue to advocate through the media and every viable channel to address these systemic issues that undermine the growth of our market. We observed that some airlines have begun to adjust their practices and policies to favor the Nigerian travel market. Our advocacy is relentless. - Minister’s Invitation to NANTA to Provide Position on the Fly Nigeria Bill 2024
The Office of the Honorable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development invited NANTA to communicate her position on behalf of the travel trade on the Fly Nigeria Bill 2024. Ably represented by our Honourable BOT Chairman – Alhaji Aminu Agoha, NANTA strongly communicated support for the Bill, and further advocated the following: - A regulatory framework that promotes a level playing field, transparency, and accountability in the travel trade industry
- For the Bill to also prioritize the protection of consumers’ rights and ensure fair competition
- For the travel trade to be more involved and engaged in the design and implementation of aviation policies and regulations
- Industry Development Initiatives
We took initiatives aimed at all-inclusive participation in decision-making and policy positions, including:
• Internal Engagements and Consultations: We initiated a process to engage with the top agencies in NANTA to unify objectives and achieve prosperity for all within the trade (both Big and Upcoming). They all agree that the direction of the Market should be based on equitable practices and strengthening NANTA
- World Travel Market (WTM) 2024 – Impactful Exhibition and Successful Handing Over
This project is a reminder of the power in our collective will and purpose. Beyond members sealing international business deals and boosting network, NANTA symbolized the power of oneness through her Exhibition at the 2024 WTM in Excel, London. Having inspired sister associations, corporates, and the Government, NANTA handed over Nigeria’s participation at the WTM to the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy (through the NTDA). This has been achieved after proudly showcasing and selling Nigeria to the World, independently, for three (3) consecutive years; 2022, 2023, and 2024. This, definitely, has increased our brand value and influence globally - Award and Recognition
This year, Virgin Atlantic honored NANTA with an Award of Excellence for Best Industry Partnership – a testament to the value of our engagements and advocacy.
Future Commitments
As we transit into a new year, we are committed to planning and further implementation to achieve the following:
- Conduct NANTA National Towns-Hall Meeting in February 2028
- See committees more active through enhanced reporting
- Establish new partnerships with Chambers of Commerce and Brands whose products add value to members
- Re-activate the Industry Working Group to enhance internal engagements
- Celebrate and honour the Nigerian traveler through the initiative – NANTA Day
- Facilitate the International Travel and Tourism Conference (ITTC) – 2025
- Schedule strategic engagements with all industry stakeholders till our key concerns are fully addressed
- Fully engage training and capacity building in 2025
- Expand our scope of impact and influence through partnerships with both African and Global bodies with rich value propositions for NANTA
- Present 2024 Year-End Position Papers to IATA, NCAA, and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development; re-presenting our informed positions, highlighting the key concerns that linger in our market, making recommendations, and seeking intervention
- NANTA is renewing membership with UFTAA, and the process will be completed by January 2025. We promise to be a strong voice in UFTAA
- Discussions for membership with World Tourism Organization (WTO) is also ongoing to give NANTA more influence and capacity to engender desired outcomes
Forging Ahead
As we transition into 2025, I encourage us all to reflect on our collective milestones, and as responsible leadership, we value your constructive feedback.
The year 2024 was good because you all, as supportive members, trusted the voice, action, and even the noiselessness of leadership.
Our collective strength is always in our unity, shared commitment to excellence, and all-inclusive prosperity. We will, through our best, insist to effect the outcomes we desire.
For and on behalf of the National Executive Council, I extend compliments of the season to your families and you. And as we embrace the New Year with optimism, I wish us all good health, sound mind, peace, and safety.
Make sure that the festive cheer rings in your families!
Yinka Folami (Mr.) National President, NANTA 0803 303 0028 (WhatsApp)
president@nanta.org.ng, yfolami@travelisgood.org