≡-NATOP and Benin Strengthen Collaboration to Boost African Tourism: A Unified Push for Growth and Sustainability – Viral of Today

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Home » TRAVEL ASSOCIATION NEWS » NATOP and Benin Strengthen Collaboration to Boost African Tourism: A Unified Push for Growth and Sustainability Tuesday, July 29, 2025In a major drive to encourage intra-Africa tourism, Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) has engaged its tourism counterparts in Republic of Benin. The partnership is aimed at minimising foreign vacation destinations as well as promoting more cross-border collaborations between Nigeria and other West African countries.This development is coming on the heels of two-day working visit by some members of NATOP to Benin Republic on the need to collaborate on tourism development. The NATOP and The Consortium Tourism by Millions of Benin (CTMB) are facilitators of the tour, alongside top hotels in the country like Azalai Hotel, Benin Royal Hotel.An Intentional Nudge Toward Intra-African TourismThe training tour is to ensure formative tour packages is created for African travelers ahead of this summer holidays while the President, NATOP, Mrs. Bolaji Mustapha, reiterated the need for cross-border tourism. She said the cooperation is crucial to building the inclusivity and understanding of local tourism offerings and experiences that more closely resonate with African travellers.It is the spirit of the farm trip that tour operators are being offered exactly the experience that they plan to sell to clients. Mustapha, the founder of Grand Express Tour Centre, thinks that there’s nothing like being at the destination to assist operators in creating packages that appeal to travelers.Collaboration Between Nigeria and BeninThe Benin accord is seen as key for boosting tourism in the west of the continent. The synergy between the two English-speaking West African countries in the pursuit of development is inevitable when considering the potential in this collaboration as it relates to tourism says Dine Bouraima, the President of CTMB and the owner of Benin Royal Hotel in the light of the cooperation.According to Bouraima, visa restrictions applied by some countries, notably the US, are hindering tourists’ desire to journey to other countries. He urged visitors to stay within the African continent when looking for travel adventures, highlighting the safety and cleanliness of Benin. We have to work together and help one another. Bouraima added that regional cooperation will help to connect young people to ensure they do not fall prey to the terror groups. He also pledged to the Nigerian tour operators that, he would remain committed to marketing the two countries and their common cultural heritage.A West African Tourism Operator PlatformAccording to Dr. Olanma Ojukwu, co-founder of God’s Own Travel Agency (GOTA), the visit was long overdue. With more than 16 years of experience in the travel industry, Ojukwu said the West African tour operators had been eager for a platform to engage with their peers. Such a partnership, she added, would also allow operators to market their destinations as a package — similar to the way that East African and European tourism pavilions are designed at international trade shows.She thinks that promoting multiple destinations in the frame of a regional tourism campaign is the way forward, which will get West African countries on the radar of potential travelers.Touring Benin’s AttractionsAs part of the ongoing excursion, the Nigerian tour operators visited Amazon Square, Family Beach Nigeria and a few other tourist attraction sites in the country of Benin. They are part of an expanding list of attractions that are being pitched to tourists in the area. The team will also visit the “Venice of Africa”, a city with exceptional culture and lifestyle connected to water, so this shows the various activities that Benin offers.The Future of Intra-African TourismThis Nigeria and Benin collaboration is only the starting point of a wider leap into the future of better inter-continental tourism connectivity within Africa. Through the development and promotion of regional tourism packages, both countries are laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and integrated tourism industry that contributes to the local economy and forges cultural connections among neighboring nations.Backed by major industry players inclu including NATOP and CTMB, the push for intra-Africa travel is in full swing, providing new opportunities for African countries to diversify their tourism products and leapfrog their reliance on foreign tourism markets. As the African nations come together to highlight all the best there is in each other in assets and resources, the intention is that these partnerships will act as a template for other countries on the African continent.

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