Mr Ikechi Uko, organiser of Accra Weizo Travel Expo,has advocated for seamless travel environment among West Africans within the region to grow its domestic market and harness its opportunities.

Uko said this in a statement on Tuesday, in Lagos, to announce the sixth edition of the expo, to be held on May 26, after three-year break, occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Accra Weizo Travel Expo is a travel event that seeks to grow seamless Travel in West Africa and is organised by the Akwaaba African Travel Market in partnership with Ghana Tourism Authority.
Uko said that this edition would be jointly organised by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and Akwaaba African Travel Market (AfTM).
He explained that the expo would engage selected experts and stakeholders in the tourism, travel and allied business sector to identify, deliberate and proffer solutions to some of the barriers of seamless travel in West Africa.
According to him, 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 travellers in Africa.
” There is a need to encourage West Africans to travel within the region and this is the goal of Accra Weizo.
” To make this happen, there is a need to create a seamless travel environment making West Africa an open domestic market, harnessing the market and opportunities within which is the goal of AccraWeizo,” he said.
Uko noted that over the years, Accra Weizo had become one of the biggest travel events in Ghana having in attendance, the Minister of Tourism, Director General of tourism agencies and prominent drivers of travel and tourism in Africa.
He said major highlights of the 6th AccraWeizo Travel event would include conference, B2B, Fam Trip, Exhibition and Balafon awards.
According to him, the Balafon awards of excellence will host an award to recognise pioneers and best players in the industry within the ECOWAS region.
He said organisers in partnership with Ghana Tourism Authority would host delegates coming from nations in the West, South and Eastern part of Africa during the two-day familiarisation tour to be held between May 23 and May 25.
” The 6th Accraweizo promises to be super exciting as participants taking part in the tour will be visiting some of the fascinating sites and experience nightlife in Ghana.
” Accra Weizo is an event opened to all African tour operators which offers an opportunity to meet and network with the leading tourism personalities in West Africa,” he said.