As intra-African travel gains unprecedented momentum, Nigerian travel professionals are preparing to position themselves at the forefront of this continental transformation. Leading the charge is the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), which is set to host a major training and capacity-building program in Banjul, The Gambia, in the last week of May 2025.

Following the success of its 49th Annual General Meeting and the groundwork laid by past president Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, the Banjul training represents a strategic pivot in NANTA’s two-year development blueprint—one that places professional development, regional collaboration, and intra-African tourism promotion at its core.

Why This Training Matters Now

For NANTA President Mr. Yinka Folami, the training is more than a workshop—it is an intentional response to the evolving dynamics of the African travel trade.

“Our goal is to make Nigerian travel professionals globally competitive,” Folami explains. “But more importantly, we want them to be African-focused—aware of the opportunities within our continent and ready to lead in driving regional travel growth.”

As Africa pushes for more integrated air routes, visa-free travel corridors, and trade alliances like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), there is growing demand for travel agencies to understand, market, and package intra-African travel products beyond traditional tourist destinations.

Banjul, Gambia’s laid-back coastal capital, was chosen not just for its accessibility but for the lessons it offers in sustainable destination management, cultural hospitality, and regional tourism synergy.

Gambia: Small Nation, Big Travel Lessons

For most Nigerian agents, the training will be their first in-depth encounter with The Gambia—a country that punches above its weight in tourism. Known as the “Smiling Coast of Africa,” The Gambia has successfully positioned itself as a year-round destination for European and West African travelers alike.

Despite its small size, Gambia offers a variety of tourism models for agents to study:

• Community-Based Tourism: Villages like Juffureh and Albreda, home to Kunta Kinteh Island, are integrated into national tour packages that blend history, heritage, and rural immersion.

• Sustainable Lodging: Many Gambian resorts and ecolodges are designed with low-impact architecture and operate on renewable energy, aligning with growing eco-conscious traveler preferences.

• Regional Marketing: Gambia leverages its proximity to Senegal and shared history to create multi-destination itineraries—a key tactic Nigerian agents can adopt in West Africa.

“There’s a lot to learn from how The Gambia connects culture, heritage, and eco-tourism in a seamless offering,” says a tourism official from the Gambian Tourism Board, who is scheduled to speak at the training.

What Participants Will Gain

The NANTA Banjul training will bring together a team of seasoned facilitators from across Africa, with modules designed to build practical skills in areas such as:

• Destination Packaging for the African Market

• Tech Integration in Travel Operations

• Digital Marketing and Client Engagement

• Understanding the Sustainable Traveler

• Collaborative Itinerary Building Across Borders

Participants will also have the opportunity to visit tourism sites around Banjul, explore partnerships with Gambian travel stakeholders, and engage in peer-to-peer networking.

For younger travel professionals and independent operators, this training presents a rare chance to see a working intra-African tourism model up close, while refining the tools needed to tap into emerging African travel corridors.

Building the Nigerian Travel Brand Abroad

More than just training, the Banjul event doubles as a showcase for Nigeria’s robust travel ecosystem. By engaging with Gambian counterparts, Nigerian agents can promote domestic destinations, invite reciprocal visits, and position Nigerian tourism as a leader in the region.

“This is how we grow,” says Mr. Folami. “By learning from others, building bridges, and elevating Nigerian travel services on the African stage.”

Time to Register

With the registration deadline approaching, NANTA encourages all members to secure their slots immediately. The event is expected to attract participants from across the six geopolitical zones, fostering a unified front in redefining Nigerian participation in intra-African travel.

As the continent edges closer to becoming its own best customer, the Banjul training may be remembered as a pivotal turning point—where Nigerian travel agents learned not just how to sell Africa, but how to experience it with fresh eyes.