Nigeria’s online travel agency, Jumia Travel, has honoured partners in the travel and tourism industry that have rendered good services to mutual customers as The Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments, Abuja emerged hotel of the year.
Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo won the best leisure hotel award while the Jumia Travel Booking award went to Eko Hotel and Suites, which also bagged the best business hotel award.
The best local airline award went to Air Peace, an award it has won for two consecutive years; Emirates airline got the best international airline award.
The best travel blogger/vacation planner award went to Tour2Nigeria while Chuks Nwanne of The Guardian newspaper was awarded the travel reporter of the year.
Presenting a keynote address at the 3rd edition of Nigeria Travel Awards organised by Jumia Travel, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Steve Ayorinde, said the tourism growth plan of Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has turned the state into a safe and welcoming tourist destination.
Ayorinde who was represented by the Director, Lagos State Council of Arts and Culture, Mrs. Saidat Olaitan Otulana stated that tourism has become one of the major players in international commerce and represents one of the main sources of income for many developing countries.
“That is why Lagos State Government has accorded the sector huge attention and committed huge resources into developing it in order to make it a model sector that will perform the tripartite role of re-branding the state as a safe and welcoming destination for visitors; of creating opportunities for different levels of stakeholders and to further develop the sector as a thriving and profitable venture for both investors and stakeholders on one hand, and government as regulators and enablers on the other hand.
“For us at the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, all we have done in almost four years is to commit to the governor’s growth agenda on the creative economy through what is called ‘Project T.H.E.S.E’, which means Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment and Sports for Excellence.
“We are trying our best to create enormous opportunities for stakeholders to further harness the tremendous economic and socio-cultural benefits of marketing a 21-million city-state and one of Africa’s top 10 economies to domestic, regional and international visitors,” she said.
Earlier in her opening remark, the Managing Director of Jumia Travel Nigeria, Miss Omolara Adagunodo, said the award ceremony was organised to celebrate excellence, raise the service delivery bar in the Nigeria travel/hospitality industry as well as to encourage all hotels and airlines in the country to offer the highest quality of service to their customers.
She urged service providers to create standard. “Without necessarily waiting for government, we can start influencing change wherever we are,” she said.
