Wells Carlton, Eko Hotels win big at Jumia Travel Awards
Wells Carlton Hotel, Abuja, today, emerged Hotel of the Year at the Jumia travel Awards held on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the awards were in eight categories, ranging from Hotel of the Year, Best Business Hotel, Best Leisure Hotel, Best Local Airline, Best International Airline, Travel Blogger and Travel Reporter of the Year.
The Eko Hotels and Suites also won double, emerging as Best Business Hotel and Jumia Travel Bookings Award winner.
The Best Leisure Hotel went to Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo.
The best local airline went to Air Peace Airline, while the best International Airline was won by the Emirates Airline.
Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Steve Ayorinde, described tourism sector as the next big revenue generating sector in Nigeria.
He said, “Business volume in the larger tourism and cultural arts sector arguably, equals and was threatening to surpass that of oil exports, agriculture or automobiles.
“Currently, one out of every 10 jobs being created is now tourism-related.
“Tourism has become one of the major players in the international commerce and represents one of the main sources of income for many developing countries.
“According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), over the decades, tourism worldwide has experienced continuous growth and deepened diversification to become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world.
“Also, because of the potential the sector holds, the Lagos State Government under Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode has accorded the sector huge attention and committed huge resources into developing it.”
Also, Ms Omolara Adagunodo, Managing Director, Jumia Travel, said the country’s hospitality sector has the potential of being the mainstay of the country’s economy and contributed a higher percentage to the Gross Domestic Product.
“Travel and Tourism was directly responsible for 1.9 per cent (N23 billion in actual numbers) of the country’s total GDP,” Adagunodo said.
On travel awards, she said that the idea was conceived to promote Nigeria’s tourism sector and encourage hoteliers/airlines to improve the quality of their services for further advancement of their respective destinations.
