Fatima Garbati Tourism Outreach will award N5m to tourism media, schools, and travel clubs during the 20th Akwaaba Travel Market. The Fatima Garbati Tourism Outreach initiative actively supports the growth of tourism across Nigeria and Africa. This initiative aligns with the late Fatima Garbati’s lifelong commitment to advancing the tourism industry, which she passionately championed through various platforms.
According to the Outreach team, the grants will help support those who share Garbati’s vision for tourism development.
“We are honoring Fatima Garbati’s legacy by supporting tourism, which she passionately promoted throughout her life,” the team said. The organizers will give grants to selected media professionals, students, and clubs who have excelled in tourism promotion. Read Also: Aviation, Tourism lose Mrs. Fatima Garbati
Akwaaba organizers will select the recipients to celebrate Garbati’s memory. Late Mrs. Garbati, a former Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) President, shaped Nigeria’s tourism landscape. She last served at the NATOP AGM in Ile Ife in 2019, marking her final public engagement. Her roles in the Federal Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), Nigerian Airways, and the NCAA strengthened her tourism and aviation influence.
Additionally, the organizers will award the N5m grant to ten travel institutes across the country. Their tourism departments and the best graduating students will benefit from these grants. This gesture aims to encourage academic excellence and foster the next generation of tourism professionals. Furthermore, ten travel clubs promoting youth tours will also receive support. Akwaaba’s organizers believe that investing in youth-driven tourism initiatives will contribute to a sustainable future for the industry.
Moreover, the organizers will recognize five tourism journalists by introducing the annual “Fatima Garbati Award for Tourism Journalism.” They will inaugurate this award at the 20th Akwaaba Travel Market to promote in-depth reporting on tourism’s impact.
The 20th Akwaaba African Travel Market promises to be a milestone event with notable participants debuting. Mövenpick Hotel Nairobi, Memorial Healthcare from Turkey, and Costa Cruises from Italy will exhibit at Akwaaba for the first time.
Their participation underscores the increasing importance of international collaborations in the African tourism market. This year’s event is expected to draw significant attention, further positioning Africa as a key player in the global travel industry.
Consequently, Akwaaba African Travel Market remains an essential gathering point for shaping the future of travel and tourism across the continent.
