Nosa Aituamen
Travel trade professionals from Nigeria and Turkey have jointly appealed for a relaxation of visa regimes between the two countries to boost trade and tourism.
The call was made during a historic meeting between the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) and the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB) in Istanbul, Turkey.
According to a statement by NANTA, the meeting, which marked the first collaboration between the two organizations, highlighted the challenges faced by travelers from both countries due to strict visa requirements.
NANTA and TURSAB the statement notes, urged their respective governments to consider waiving or relaxing visa requirements for travelers holding valid visas from countries such as the UK, Schengen countries, Canada, and the US.
The Turkish travel trade professionals expressed concern over the low number of Nigerian visitors to Turkey, with only a few thousand Nigerians traveling to the country annually, despite its reputation as a popular tourist destination.
They attributed this to the stringent visa requirements and requested that NANTA help profile and recommend Nigerian visitors to mitigate the risk of visa seekers absconding.
The Nigerian travel trade professionals, led by NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami, welcomed the hospitality extended by TURSAB and invited the Turkish travel trade leaders to Nigeria to celebrate NANTA’s 50th anniversary in 2026.
Turkish Airlines, which brokered the meeting, has been announced as the official partner airline for the event.
The two organizations agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding to partner and support each other on tourism exchange visits, training, and retraining, and to promote a united voice on global travel trade matters.
They also pledged to work together to increase revenue yields from tourism for both nations.
The meeting, which was attended by representatives from Turkish Airlines, marked a significant step towards strengthening travel trade relations between Nigeria and Turkey.
Both countries are expected to benefit from increased tourism and trade cooperation, with a focus on promoting cultural exchange and economic growth.