NANTA storms Ghana for strategic tourism push, targets ‘Africa for Africa’ growth
Executive retreat to deepen Nigeria-Ghana tourism ties, boost B2B partnerships and cultural exchange
Maureen Aguta
The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has embarked on a strategic tourism and business mission to Ghana as part of efforts to deepen intra-African travel, strengthen bilateral tourism trade, and promote destination marketing across the continent.
The seven-day Executive Council Retreat, themed “Africa for Africa: Tourism, Unity and Shared Growth,” is being hosted by Safari World Limited in Ghana, with Ibom Air serving as the official carrier for the Nigerian delegation.
The retreat will bring together NANTA’s national executives and key tourism stakeholders to explore Ghana’s tourism offerings while advancing partnerships designed to drive leisure travel and tourism investments between Nigeria and Ghana.
According to the organisers, the engagement goes beyond a familiarisation trip. It is a strategic initiative aimed at expanding NANTA’s cross-border tourism advocacy and creating sustainable tourism products that will unlock new opportunities for African destinations.
Speaking ahead of the retreat, NANTA President, Yinka Folami, who is leading the delegation from Lagos to Ghana, described the mission as a deliberate effort to translate policy aspirations into tangible tourism outcomes.
“Nigeria and Ghana share history, culture, trade and people, and the future of our tourism cannot be built in silos,” Folami said. “This retreat is about moving from policy to practice—creating real products, real partnerships, and real movement of travellers between Accra and Lagos.”
He noted that the association remains committed to championing the ‘Africa for Africa’ agenda by promoting African destinations among Africans and encouraging stronger collaboration among tourism stakeholders across the continent.
During the retreat, members of the Executive Council are expected to hold strategic meetings with their Ghanaian counterparts, undertake guided visits to key tourism attractions around Safari Valley, and participate in cultural exchange activities, including a symbolic ‘Jollof diplomacy’ event designed to celebrate the shared heritage of both countries.
Industry stakeholders say the timing of the retreat is significant, coming as African nations seek to maximise opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and intensify efforts to remove barriers limiting intra-African travel and tourism.
Safari World Limited was selected as host for its eco-tourism offerings and conference facilities, which provide an ideal platform for high-level deliberations while showcasing Ghana’s nature-based tourism assets to the Nigerian delegation.
The mission will also provide an opportunity to address critical issues affecting regional tourism development, including visa facilitation, air connectivity and concerns over Afrophobia within the continent. Ibom Air’s participation is expected to further strengthen discussions around seamless travel between both countries.
At the end of the retreat, NANTA is expected to unveil broader plans aimed at positioning Safari World as one of West Africa’s premier tourism destinations, while advancing its vision of a more connected and prosperous African tourism ecosystem driven by Africans for Africans.