Dubai Tourism West Africa Trade Show 2020 Port Harcourt Nigeria In Retrospect 

On Friday, 28th February 2020, the Dubai Tourism West Africa Tradeshow berthed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, having being to Accra, Lagos and Abuja.

The well attended event in Port Harcourt was an opportunity for the attendees from various strata of society, cutting across different industries to hear the new Director-General of the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA) Mr. Yibo Koko, speak on the plans and programs of the agency in line with the vision of the governor of Rivers state, for the sector.

He stressed the commitment of His Excellency, Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON, the Executive Governor of Rivers State to creating an ambience conducive for investment and Tourism, thus, Mr. Yibo Koko highlighted salient areas where Dubai and Rivers state can collaborate, which includes but not limited to; activation of Rivers-Dubai tourism marketplace products, engagement of Dubai Expo to promote heritage tourism commodities, facilitating the development of Rivers sustainable tourism infrastructure master plan, etc.

Rivers state has cultural content that can attract tourists and promote tourism. In the words of Mr. Koko to the audience; “…we solicit your unalloyed partnership with the agency in our bid to rebrand our state and city in positive colors with a narrative that is endearing. Let’s make it a duty to speak well of Rivers state, in spite of our political, ethnic or religious loyalties, as we have the potentials like Dubai if not more, to make Rivers State a tourist destination.”

In response, the CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commercial Marketing, Issam Kazim, corroborated the DG’s position stating that their leaders always admonished them to relate the positive narratives in their space.

The trade show had private sector actors and businesses in the hospitality, medical, education and creative sectors of the Dubai economy in attendance, showcasing their services. Many attendees at the event won exciting packages worth millions of naira in the raffle draw organized by Dubai Tourism.

Special mention must be made of our own Stella Fubara-Obinwa, Director of International Operations with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, who tirelessly facilitates the hosting of such mutually beneficial programs in the city of Port Harcourt. Also in the entourage from Dubai were; Salim Dahman, Sr. Manager Campaigns, Tareq Binbrek – Executive Coordinator and Khalid Ali Abdulqader – Dubai Health Authority.