By Folasade Adeniran

A tourism expert, Mr Ikechi Uko, has urged West African tour operators to collaborate closely to promote travel and tourism within the region and achieve shared objectives.

Uko spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the just-concluded eighth edition of the West African Travel Expo (Accraweizo 2025).

The event, with the theme, “Reimagining The ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol”, was held in Accra, Ghana, from June 27 to July 1.

NAN reports that the event focused on seamless travel in West Africa, exploring its opportunities and challenges.

It featured a summit for West African tour operators and transporters.

Uko, who organises the annual event, said this year’s edition particularly focused on tour operators because they are the real enablers.

“Transporters and tour operators have been the ones sustaining regional travel, but they’ve rarely worked together.

“So, we thought, let’s convene them. First, to network. Second, to challenge one another. And third, to get them to take a position on how to improve. That’s how the idea of a tour operators’ summit came about,” Uko explained.

Uko commended ECOWAS for its role in the summit.

He stated, “We’re happy that one way or another, ECOWAS themselves reached out to us and decided that they are interested in what we are doing.

“Over the past years, they have been attempting to engage more with tourism and travel, but mostly at the level of national federations.

“Now, they see the value of engaging directly with practitioners. They realised the actual issues with the protocol aren’t entirely ECOWAS’s fault; it’s in the implementation by sovereign states.”

According to Uko, ECOWAS has requested a compilation of a report based on the deliberations of the tour operators.

“I have asked them to identify five key issues and recommendations.

“We don’t want to impose a report from the top; it must be participatory, something they own. Once it’s done, we will present it to the ECOWAS president,” he added.

Uko said networking plans were already underway for Accraweizo 2026.

“For example, we have 21 tour operators from East Africa planning to come solely to find West African partners. This is how we grow,” he noted.

According to him, the goal is to improve travel and tourism growth in West Africa through easy access to towns and cities within the region, improving and simplifying airport and border processes, among other things.

“West Africa is the biggest region in Africa, with over 400 million people rich in culture and tourist attractions.

“It receives the least number of tourists, yet West African countries generate the highest number of outbound travelers in Africa.

“There is a need to encourage West Africans to travel within the region, and this is the goal of Accra Weizo,” Uko highlighted.

NAN reports that during the summit, the push for unity and collaboration was reinforced by Yvonne Donkor, President of the Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA).

She stressed the importance of advocating policies that support cross-border tourism, continuous dialogue among stakeholders, and innovative partnerships that could break down barriers limiting regional travel.

Also, Mrs Bolaji Mustapha, President of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), said that Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are vital for achieving seamless cross-border travel in West Africa.

She urged governments in the region to collaborate on infrastructure development, such as border facilities, roads, and transportation systems.

She also noted that creating bilingual content collaboration would bridge the region’s language divide.

NAN reports that the event drew stakeholders from countries in the region, including Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Togo, Benin Republic, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa