Recognition has come the way of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Director-General National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe, Susan Akporiaye, President, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies, NANTA, and one of Nigeria’s top banks, Sterling Bank, and many others at the recent 2020 edition of the Nigeria Tourism award ceremony, known as the Balearica Awards, organised virtually by the Nigeria Travel Week.
Sanwo-Olu was awarded the honor for his efforts at implementing positive tourism initiatives in the state. Runsewe was recognized as the Tourism personality of the year while Akporiaye was recognised as a tourism industry icon.
Sterling Bank was given a special recognition award for tourism support
Efetobo Awhana, Organiser of the event, disclosed that Gov. Sanwo-Olu deserved the award because he is the only Governor to establish a tourism support fund following the devastating effect of COVID-19 on the industry. Awhana said that the Governor also prioritised tourism policies among some other positive tourism initiatives implemented in the state.
“The 2020 Nigeria Tourism Award recognises those tourism firms and individuals who have gone out of their way to boost domestic tourism while COVID-19 ravaged the world.
2020 was indeed a difficult year for every practitioner in the tourism industry, yet many individuals went out of their way to ensure that the industry thrived amidst all odds,” the organizers said.
Under the Tourism Icon category, the Young Tourism Personality recognition went to Omotoke Fatoki, Chief Mike Amachree and Jemi Alade went home with the Lifetime Achievement Award while HRM Oba Ademola Folakemi took the Royal Support for Tourism statuette.
Badagry emerged as the Best Tourism Destination, Dr. Adebisi Obawale was recognized as Best Tourism Commissioner, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, also got a special recognition award for tourism infrastructures due to his contributions towards improving the transportation system in Nigeria, especially the railway which is identified as being crucial to the growth of tourism in Nigeria.
Special recognition award for Tourism Innovation went to Skyview Communications; Dr. Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General of the National Park Service bagged special recognition for essential duties while Mr. Adeyanju Lipede was rewarded for his efforts in Tourism Investment.
Below is the Full List Of Winners
SPECIAL RECOGNITION CATEGORY
Dr Ibrahim Goni: Essential Duties
Prince Adeyanju Lipede: Tourism Investmmment
Sterling Bank: Tourism Support
Rotimi Amaechi: Tourism Infrastructure
HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORY
Best Casual Dining Restaurant: Maison Kayser
Best Platinum Dining Restaurant:Z Kitchen
Best Ethnic Restaurant: Tamberma Ibadan
Best Tourism Attraction: oNIKAN hOUSE lAGOS
Best Family Amusement Center: uPBEAT cENTER
Best tourism promotion initiative: Work N Play
Best Hotel Suite: Federal Palace Hotel
Best International Chain Hotel: Radisson Blu Anchorage
Best Resort: La Campagne Tropicana
Best Beach Hotel: Jara Beach Resort
Best Luxury Hotel: The Envoy Abuja
Best Boutique Hotel: L’eola Hotel Lagos
Best Boutique Hotel: The Envoy Abuja
TRANSPORT AND TRAVEL SERVICES
Best Domestic Tour Operator: Angel Style world travels
Best Leisure Travel Agency: Brisk Travel and Tours
Best Business Travel Agency: Business Travel Management
Best Tour Guide: Bethel Moseglad
MEDIA CATEGORY
Best Travel Blog: Zee Goes
Best Tourism Photography: Blessed Emmanuel
Best Tourism Video: The UnfficialOmotayo
Best Travel TV Programme: Goge Africa
Best Travel Radio Programme: Tourism Perspective
Best Tourism Journalist: Wale Olapade
Special Recognition-Tourism Innovation: sKYVIEW COMMUNICATION
Tourism personality of the year: Otunba Segun Runsewe
Best Tourism Destination: Badagry
Best Tourism Commissioner: Dr Adebisi Obawale
Best Tourism Governor: Babajide Sanwo Olu
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
DR IBRAHIM GONI: ESSENTIAL DUTIES
PRINCE ADEYANJU LIPEDE: TOURISM INVESTMMMENT
STERLING BANK: TOURISM SUPPORT
ROTIMI AMAECHI: TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE
INDUSTRY ICONS
Susan Akporiaye
Ganiyu Tarzan Balogun
Bunmi Aremu
Tinuke Nwakohu
Dr Raphael James
Bimbo Durosinmi-Etti
Folorunsho Coker
