According to Mr Remi Olayemi, Chief Executive Officer, Leisure King Travel and Tours, who participated at the market, “I am impressed and proud of Nigeria’s stand and conduct of all who exhibited at our stand. I am particularly happy that it was declared the best here.
“The Nigeria’s stand stood like a colossus as the designer who I learnt is the Director-General, NTDC herself, really demonstrated that she is a master in stand packaging and presentation.
“ It speaks volumes about Nigeria and potrays to all that we are indeed a nation ready for tourism growth.”
He further revealed, “ I learnt from an impeccable source that this beautiful and spectacular stand was constructed at a cost lower than three million naira which is a far, far, cry from the cost of the previous stands which costs ranges between 11 and 25 million naira.
“You could see how this lady has been able to save millions of naira for Nigeria through her act of prudency.”
Mr Olayemi pointed out “Nigeria tourism sector is reaping the benefit of appointing a round peg in a round hole as Mrs Mbanefo has been able to ensure that her private sector experience and networking adequately rubbed off on this outing.
“The turnout of exhibitors at the Nigerian stand here is a reflection of the drive of Mrs Mbanefo who has successfully served as the bridge between the public and private sector.
“I am happy to see the permanent secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Eko Hotels, Arik Air, Monopoly, Cross River State Afro Company and many who have made our stand a center of activities and a must visit.”
He described the composure of the NTDC Director-General, as a dutiful woman whose passion is geared towards Nigerian tourism and concentrated in selling domestic sites to buyers.
“She is regarded here as the face of Nigeria. Indeed and honestly too, she is.
“Her mode of dressing which accentuated and showcased our national colors of green-white-green as typified by her cap and dress made her the cynosure of all eyes and an attraction herself.
“She was just attending to visitors and discussing with so many buyers and sellers of tourism.”
Mr. Olayemi revealed, “Going by performance rating, Nigeria’s outing this time around is good and commendable.
“The outing is not only well coordinated, but also very colorful, of teamwork of both public and private sectors participation, which Mrs Mbanefo has been championing. In fact, I am happy and proud to see the NTDC making inroads into the forays of international tourism market and caucus beyond propaganda and noise making,” Olayemi explained.
“ Mrs Mbanefo in a telephone chat confirmed the fact that she was the one who designed the Nigerian stand at WTM.
“I designed the stand. As an artist, I do not think it is good news to learn that NTDC commissioned or contracted out our stand’s design. So, I put pen on paper and sketched it out. And to God be the glory, those who mounted it did a good job of it.”
“I had a fruitful discussion with Carol Weaving, Managing Director, WTM Africa, Reed Exhibition and we are working on the possibility of hosting WTM, Africa in Nigeria. I also midwived deep commitment of interest in promotion of Nigeria domestic tourism from Mr Derek Houston who is interested in building Convention Center,” she said.
Mrs Mbanefo further said “ I discussed with the Expedia group, a company set up by Bill Gate in 1996. The intercontinental company has agreed to collaborate with NTDC in two major development schemes via tourism education, awareness and information dissemination and networking of tour operators in Nigeria with international buyers and sellers.”
She revealed that expedia would soon be in Nigeria not only to see, assess and appreciate Nigeria’s tourism potentialities but also “come up with what will allow and make brand Nigeria attractive to others. Expedia has also agreed to help in fashioning out a product in comparison with other tourism conscious African countries.”
Mrs Mbanefo disclosed that during the interaction “Expedia has agreed to collaborate with NTDC to sell Nigeria and encourage Nigerians outside its shores to come back and do something worthwhile that could create job and mobilize wealth.”
After having successfully closed a deal with Expedia, Mrs Mbanefo said she also had a fruitful discussion with Javago.com, a money generating online search which will have a stay on NTDC’s website cultivating money and revenue to the corporation.”
Mrs Mbanefo reiterated her earlier policy on travel market attendance and participation.
“Like I used to say and which has become a policy for us at the NTDC, we will not just participate in any travel fair for just participation sake.
“We will not attend trade fair where Nigeria will not benefit or which we believe will not add value to what we are doing here at NTDC.”
tourism.gov.ng/mbanefo-wins-wtm-africa-hosting-right-for-nigeria-%E2%80%A2as-nigerias-stand-voted-best-in-cape-town/
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