By: Yunus .S. Saliu
The African Travel Quarterly (ATQ) has named the Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG) for the Balafon Travel Awards – Champions of West Africa in recognition of its outstanding contributions to capacity building and human resource development across West Africa’s tourism industry.
The prestigious award will be officially presented at the 8th edition of the Accra Weizo Conference, scheduled for Friday, 27th June 2025, at the Accra City Hotel in Ghana. The event will bring together tourism ministers, director generals of tourism agencies, tour operators, and travel professionals from across the region, including Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and The Gambia.
According to ATQ Publisher, the well-earned accolade highlights ITTOG’s steadfast commitment to training and empowering tourism professionals, associations, and state institutions across the region. Also noted that ITTOG’s work in nurturing skilled talent, advancing tourism education, and supporting sustainable tourism practices has positioned the institute as a transformative force in the sector.
More so, “our tailored programs to your collaborative approach with regional associations and government bodies, you have consistently raised the standard of professionalism and knowledge across borders creating a ripple effect of growth, innovation, and empowerment in the travel and tourism landscape.”
However, “the impact of your institute aligns perfectly with the vision of Accra Weizo to promote seamless travel and enhance the quality and competitiveness of tourism services in West Africa. Your continued investment in people and knowledge directly supports this goal,” ATQ disclosed.
Accra Weizo, now a flagship travel and tourism event in Ghana, has over the years grown into a key gathering for hospitality and aviation stakeholders. It serves as a forum for building partnerships, exploring collaborative solutions, and promoting travel across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Congratulating the ITTOG, ATQ Publisher Ikechi Uko said, “We would be honoured to celebrate your leadership in tourism education and training at Accra Weizo 2025.”