By Seun Ibiyemi
The National Executive Council of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has commenced a seven-day retreat and familiarisation trip in Ghana aimed at strengthening tourism partnerships and promoting cross-border travel between Nigeria and Ghana.
The retreat, hosted by Safari World, will see members of the association’s leadership engage in strategic meetings, tourism site visits and cultural exchange activities across some of Ghana’s leading leisure destinations.
Speaking while receiving the delegation at Safari World Homes in Accra, Chairman of the Safari World Group, Mr. Ernest Gyekye, expressed excitement over the visit and assured the NANTA executives of a memorable experience throughout their stay.
NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami, described the retreat and familiarisation trip as a deliberate effort to deepen collaboration within Africa’s tourism industry and expand the association’s marketing advocacy for Nigerian brands beyond the country’s borders.
According to him, the initiative goes beyond leisure and is designed to create stronger business relationships and practical opportunities for tourism development.
“This mission is not a leisure trip. It is a deliberate step to implement and expand our association’s marketing advocacy for Nigerian brands across borders,” Folami said.
He noted that Nigeria and Ghana share longstanding ties in history, culture and commerce, stressing that the future of tourism on the continent depends on stronger regional cooperation.
“The future of our tourism cannot be built in silos. This retreat is about moving from policy to practice — creating real products, real partnerships, and real movement of travellers between Accra and Lagos,” he added.
As part of the itinerary, the NANTA executives will hold business-to-business meetings with Ghanaian tourism stakeholders and tour Safari World’s flagship destinations, including Safari Homes in Accra, the Aqua Safari riverfront experience, Safari Island Cruise, Safari Nautica, Safari Recreation and Sports facilities in Ada, as well as the Safari Valley Eco Resort and Safari Eco Park in Dawu.
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Operating under the theme, “One World, Three Destinations, Over 20 Unique Experiences,” Safari World is leveraging the visit to strengthen its footprint in the Nigerian travel market and position Ghana as a preferred destination for leisure, conferences, family holidays, group travel and premium tourism experiences.
A major highlight of the visit will be the Executive Dinner scheduled for July 21 at the Safari Valley Eco Resort, where key stakeholders from both countries are expected to discuss strategies for advancing Ghana’s tourism sector and deepening bilateral travel trade.
The familiarisation tour is expected to provide NANTA’s leadership with first-hand knowledge of Safari World’s offerings and support the development of stronger travel packages and partnerships for Nigerian travellers
