AKWAABA: ATQ to award travel personalities promoting Africa’s image in diaspora

Ahead of the much-anticipated 2019 African Travel Market – AKWAABA, the African Travel Quarterly, (Atqnews.com), has shortlisted names of Travel personalities, who promote the African continent in the diaspora, for the Africa Travel 100 Global Personalities awards.

TW gathered that the award recognizes personalities of African Origin, living in Africa or outside the continent, irrespective of their current citizenship or nationality, that have been contributing to the development of the continent and its Diaspora in the area of Tourism and Travel.

This comes as plans to launch a Global Tourism Association for Tourism players in Africa and the diaspora nears completion.
 
The African Travel 100 Global Personalities awards will take place on the 2nd day of the 15th AKWAABA African Travel Market, which is slated to hold from 22nd to 24th of September 2019 at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The award is expected to honor personalities in the travel and tourism sector that have exemplified themselves in the industry and contributed to the growth of the sector in Africa and the Diaspora.

The event will be part of the First African Tourism Diaspora Conference 2019. The Conference is expected to draw top tourism personalities from around the world to Lagos Nigeria.
 
African Tourism Diaspora Conference 2019 is to mark the 400 years of slavery, a very sensitive topic that has created an uncomfortable relationship between Africa and its diaspora.

The Conference is an opportunity to celebrate the merging of Africans, Americans, Caribbean’s and the rest of the world during this memorable gathering expected in Lagos.
 
Africa, with 54 countries and a population of 1.2 billion, has unbelievable tourist attractions.

The Caribbean and African diaspora have a unique culture, rich heritage and beautiful destinations for tourists, hence the need to connect and combine these wonderful cultures and population, creating a huge global market.
 
The African Diaspora Tourism Conference presents a platform to discuss, initiate, dialogue and celebrate a new relationship.

However, the recognition of Africa as a beacon of hope for African people living on the continent and in the Diaspora to explore, relate and live using the African Diaspora Tourism Conference as the African Platform for the foundation of this long-lasting relationship.

Posterity will remember that the improvement was earned not by coincidence but by conscious efforts to validate the struggles, strengths, and linkages between African descendants on a Pan-African scale.

The African diaspora and Africa have the same unique culture, rich heritage and beautiful destinations for Tourism and Trade, therefore, there is a need to connect and combine these wonderful cultures and population as a market for mutual benefit.
 
The Africa Travel 100 Awards, now in her 18th year, has recognized leaders, industry practitioners, and government officials who have promoted tourism and improved travel using unique platforms and new information over the years.

Some of the past awards targeted at bringing the African Travel and Tourism Practitioners together include:
 
 
AFRICAN DIASPORA GLOBAL TOURISM PERSONALITIES

1. Minister Edmund Barlett – Jamaica’s Minister of tourism
2. Rosemary Sadlier – Promoting Black Cultural Heritage in Canada
3. Dr. Eugene Franklin – Chairman, Pan African Cultural Heritage Institute.
4. Diallo Sumbry – First Ambassador of African-America Tourism to Ghana.
5. Carol Hay – Director of Marketing Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Uk and Europe.
6. Professor Thomas Mensah – Ghanaian / American Pioneer in fiber Optic technology, Author “The right stuff comes in Black too”.
7. Fabien Anthony- Chairman & Co-Founder Pan-African Council
8. Kitty Pope – Creator, Africa Diaspora World Tourism Awards
9. Eric Martin & Kent Johnson – Founders of Black and Abroad
10. Cherae Robinson – Founder Tastemakers Africa
11. Macaulay Kalu – Chairman, African Union 6th Region.
12. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao – African Union ambassador to the U.S
13. Carolyn Anderson – Founder, Beyond All Borders.
14. Danny Rivers Mitchell – Founders Black Girls Travel Too
15. Kumi Rauf – CEO, I Love Being Black
16. Jessica Nabongo – Founder/ CEO Jet Black
17. Rozan Ahmed – Cultural Institute Creative Writer.

 
 
INITIAL SHORTLIST OF AFRICAN WINNERS
Transportation
 1 Rohan Vos…….Owner of Rovos Rail (South Africa)
2. Frank Nneji…..Owner of ABC Transport (Nigeria)
 
Aviation

1. Tewolde Gabrielmariam…..GCEO of Ethiopian Airlines
2. Rahel Assefa…VP Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s Top Ranked Lady Aviator
3. Chief Allen Onyema…Chairman Air Peace, Africa’s biggest Privately Owned Airline.
4. Captain Solomon Quianoo… Africa’s Top A380 Pilot (Ghana)
5. Chief Togbe Afede…Chairman Africa World Airlines
6. Girma Wake – Former CEO Ethiopian Airline
7. Mr. Valentine Tongo – CEO, Allied Air
8. Capt. Edward Boyo – MD, Overland Airways
9. Capt. Ado Sanusi – CEO, Aero Contractor

 
 
 Past African Legend of Travel Winners
1. Waturi Wa Matu…Travel Professional (Kenya)
2. Captain Desta Zeru…First African Captain of B787 Dreamliner (Ethiopia)
3.  Captain Irene Koki Mutungi …Africa’s Top Female Pilot. (Kenya)
 4. Kumnegger Teketel…MICE Promoter and Event Organiser. (Ethiopia)

Tourism Media
1. Wolfgang Thome….online Publisher, ATC News
2. Jason Njoku – Publisher & Promoter IROKO TV Nigeria
3. Nick Fadugba – Publisher African Aviation
 
 Tourism Administration 
 1. Najib Balala… Tourism Minister Kenya and CAF UNWTO President.
2. Elsia Grandcourt…Africa Representative UNWTO. (Seychelles)
3. Alain St. Ange… Former Minister of Tourism Seychelles
4. Ambassador Dr. Eriaka Bennett- Head of mission AU Diaspora office
5. Eiman Kheir – Head of Diaspora Division, Citizens & Diaspora Organisations, AU.
6. Stella Fubara – Director, International Operations Africa, Dubai Tourism.
7. Adama Bah – Founder, West African Branch, International Centre for Responsible Tourism
 
Hospitality/ facility owners
1. Ato Tadiwos Belete… Kuriftu resort. (Ethiopia)
2. Tony Elumelu….Chairman Transcorp Hotels. (Nigeria)
3. Oskar Ibru…Ibru Organisations leading Hospitality investor. (Nigeria)
4. Professor Nzamujo… Proprietor Songhai integrated Agricultural center. (Benin)
5. Mr. Samih Sawiris …Proprietor El Gouna Resort. (Egypt)
6. Joe Osawaye – Managing Partner, KIZA Tomorrow Africa
 
Travel Business 
 1. Julie Dabaly Scott…Managing Director, Carlson Wagonlit Travel.
2. Femi Adefope… Nigeria Travel Business Owner. ( HRG, CWT, GHI, APG)
3. Richard Akerele… Logistics and Airlines Support Services. (ASL Newrest)
4. Taiwo Afolabi…Chairman SIFAX Airport Logistics
5. Sijabuliso Thabani Biyan – Board Chairman, Rainbow Tourism Group
 
Tour Operations 
 1. Zainab Anseil… CEO, Zara Tours Tanzania
2. Uloma Egbuna…Tour Brokers International, Emirate Holidays, Royal  Carribean. (Nigeria)
3. Amos Wekesa…MD, Great Lakes Safaris Limited.
 
MICE Promoters.

1. Governor Ben Ayade… Organizer Carnival Calabar
2. Rick Taylor…MICE Expert (South Africa)
3. Rabbi Kohain – Executive Director Panafest (Ghana)
4. Tom Kunkler – Organiser Kilifair and SITES (Tanzania)
5. Sen Florence Ita-Giwa – Band leader, Carnival Calabar

 
 Heritage & Culture
1. Professor Zahi Hawass – Egyptologist and Former Curator of the Heritage of the Pharaohs
2. Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi – King of Yorubas and Promoter of Olojo Festival
3. Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi – Custodian of Kano walls and Durbar Festival
4. Oba Ewuare II – Custodian of Benin Moat and Igue Festival
5. Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe – Ofala Festival.
6. King Mswati – Swaziland Reeds Dance Umhlanga Festival.
7. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II – AKwasidae Festival (Kumasi, Ghana).
8.  Otunba Olusegun Runsewe – Director-General, National Council For Arts and Culture (NCAC)
9.  Stephen Rwangyezi – Founder, Ndere Cultural Centre, Kampala, Uganda.
10. Ms. Sthembiso Dlamini – COO, South African Tourism