Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, NTT Summit & Expo convener
2024 NTT Summit & Expo to firm tourism, transportation synergy, as event gets Dec. 3 date
[By VICTOR NZE]
This year’s edition of the highly-anticipated National Tourism Transportation (NTT) Summit & Expo, the 7th in the series, will prioritize implementation of vital communiques from the previous six editions of the annual business meet, as it seeks to further deepen synergy already established between the tourism and transportation sector players in the country.
Speaking during a media briefing, in Abuja, Friday, to announce the event, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, the National President Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN) and Chairman Inter-Ministerial Committee for NTTS 2024, explained that implementation of these communiques is expected to form roadmap for industry players.
Chief Odusanwo further informed that the implementation is expected to effectively equip the operators with the leeway to play their respective roles in the most appropriate ways that guarantee the best economic benefits and further ensure growth and development for the country.
Organised this year under the theme of; ‘Tourism, Transportation Connectivity: Accelerating The Synergy for National Economic Development,’ the event is billed fo run from Tuesday 3 through to Wednesday, December 4, at the Velodrome, Package ‘A’, of the M.K.O. Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
The annual NTT Summit and Expo which began in 2018 following Federal Government’s desire to deepen synergy and interconnectivity between tourism and transportation sectors of the economy has grown to become one of the most anticipated events on the business calendar of the country, as private and public sector operators in the industry have already kicked off moves to secure participation space at the gathering in Abuja.
According to tge committee chairman, other critical thematic areas of focus at the summit include; Encouraging Massive Investment in Waterfront Properties, Resource and Etiquette Training, as well as; Ensuring Professionalism and Improved Customer Service Delivery at Nigerian Airports through the Eradication of Unwholesome Practices.
Other sub-themes are: Connect and Explore: Trusted Travel Hubs for Seamless Journey; The Relevance of Directional Information Signs in Tourism Transportation Operations; The Role of the Nigerian Customs Service in the Effective Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Similarly, the matter of ‘Artistic Collaboration and Partnership within the Tourism Transportation Sector,’ along with others are expected to form other sub-themes of the summit in Abuja.
A guideline also released by the Inter-Ministerial committee disclosed that as part of programmes lined up for the 2024 edition of the summit, the traditional Host City Walk will take place on Saturday, November 30, with participants starting the race from the Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Garki Abuja.
“This is intended to give participants the opportunity to build the vigour and strength that will see them through the two-day event.
“The Summit and Expo events will come up with paper presentations, discussion sessions as well as the exhibition of products and services by delegates and participants at the Summit and Expo.
“In addition, B2B and G2B sessions will also feature in the two-day event that promises to be fulfilling,” Odusanwo stated.
On the exhibition’s content, the committee chairmain disclosed that it will seek to create a platform among stakeholders at both national and international levels, as well as, public and private sectors ‘to interact in a serene atmosphere with customers and investors leading to a healthy understanding of the connectivity and operational ease of cooperation between the two industries and to most importantly overcome impending challenges and hurdles of the tourism transportation inter-connectivity.’
“It is to further provide the platform for operators in the aviation, road, railways, maritime, and those within the hospitality and tourism value chain and within the confines of national and international operations, to showcase their products and services to consumers, business membership organizations and to the regulatory agencies,” the ITPN President explained.
The now 7 year-old NTT Summit and Expo is a multi-industry business forum which has remained public-private sector-driven since its inception in 2018, is also expected to feature an awards and investiture forum for this year’s edition.
“It has been sustained with the collaboration and partnership between critical operators in the tourism and transportation service sector, financial and insurance companies, air, road, rail and marine transport operation facilitators, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), corporate organizations, including those from the oil and gas sectors, national security operatives, international organizations, the diplomatic Community in the country.
“Indeed, the 2024 National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo is a must attend event for key industry players, companies’ CEOs, associations, decision makers, where the platform and opportunities are made available to interact and meet with international regulatory and policy setting bodies, and investors to showcase and market their products and services
“The Summit and Expo has an Award and Dinner/Gala Nite which comes up on Wednesday, 5th December, 2024 at the same venue of the Abuja National Stadium, during which the Tourism Transport Fellowship inductions of deserving practitioners, key players and critical stakeholders of the industry.
“It is instituted to recognize and foster excellence in the Travel-Tourism, Hospitality and related fields of operations critical to the sector.
“The induction allows the industry to recognize those individuals, organizations and events that have gone over and above board to offer superior tourism transport experiences. The investiture is meant to encourage the individuals and organizations to keep providing the diverse range of high-quality tourism transport services so that tourists keep coming back year after year.
“Following on from the induction and investiture session is the Gala Night under an environment of absolute quietude and decorum for attendees of the 2024 Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo.
“This is meant to offer leisure moments to participants, guests and visitors to the Summit and Expo in an informal environment to refresh cool off with sumptuous meals refreshing drinks as well as socialize; an integral aspect of tourism and hospitality which Nigeria and Nigerians are well known for.
“The Summit and Expo will be rounded off with the Abuja City Tour on Thursday, December 5, 2024,” Odusanwo disclosed.
Established to be the largest domestic and international gathering, bringing together over 1,500 business leaders, high level investors, top notch-policy makers in Nigeria, Africa and around the world, the NTT Summit & Expo is an all-inclusive interactive discourse event aimed at stimulating deals and transactions across the untapped synergy opportunities in the Nigerian tourism and transportation space.
The event annually attracts the collaborative participation and involvement of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government on the one hand, and all the components of the Organized Private Sector (OPS), as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and members of the diplomatic community, on the other.
Odusanwo further informed that this year’s NTT Summit follows on the heels of and in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration resolve which seeks to create a framework and clear policy guideline on the need for a symbiotic synergy between transportation, particularly, aviation, with tourism.
“The policy guideline is also projected to place the transportation sector on a high pedestal of socio-economic growth for a purposeful and positive dynamic impact on the people through the institutionalization of a resilient and sustainable economic base for transportation and tourism that will benefit the present and future generations of our dear country, Nigeria,” the organizing committee chairman said.
