Headlines for Travel and Tourism News
Abeiku Santana Honoured Among Top Africa Travel 100 Global Leaders for 2024
ASKY Airlines celebrates Customer Service Week 2024 with key Travel Partners in Accra
SITA Implements Smart Path Technology at Indian Airports for Seamless Digital Travel
Mr. Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey Santana, popularly known as Abeiku Santana, has achieved a significant milestone in the tourism sector, being named among the Top Africa Travel 100 Global Leaders for 2024.
This prestigious recognition was bestowed upon him at a glamorous awards ceremony held at the Eko Hotels Convention Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.
Abeiku Santana, the Managing Director of Kaya Tours, was celebrated for his unwavering commitment to promoting tourism, not just in Ghana but across the world.
The Top Africa Travel 100 Global Leaders initiative, presented by the Akwaaba African Travel Market, recognises individuals who have made notable contributions to the tourism industry across Africa.
In his acceptance speech, Santana, often referred to as “Mr. Tourism,” expressed his excitement at receiving the award and reaffirmed his dedication to African tourism, which he described as the backbone of many economies.
“Having served the tourism industry for more than two decades, this year has been particularly exciting for me, especially with the progress seen in the tourism industry across the continent,” he said.
In 2024, Abeiku Santana has been invited to participate in several prestigious tourism conferences across Africa, including the Africa Tourism Leadership Forum in Namibia and the 8th Swahili International Tourism Expo in Tanzania.
He has also collaborated with Experiential Travel Africa to organise a successful inbound tour for the African American community.
Abeiku Santana’s influence extends beyond the continent, with his involvement in the launch of the Association of Tourist Attractions and Sites Ghana, where he serves as a founding partner and Deputy Executive Director. Additionally, he has been invited to the inaugural United Nations Tourism for Africa and America Summit in the Dominican Republic.
In London, Santana partnered with the Pan Africa Arts Society to host one of the most successful comedy and music shows—Kavod 2024—and worked with Telemo Fun Club to bring the Party in the Park experience to the UK capital. His contributions also included providing ground-handling services for Mastercard and AirBnB’s strategic management teams during their visits to Ghana and collaborating with international companies like The Big Group and Icily Live from the UK and South Africa.
Abeiku Santana’s impressive list of accolades in tourism continues to grow. His previous recognitions include being named Tourism CEO of the Year at the 2023 Ghana CEO Awards, winning the Tourism-Orientated Media Personality award at the 2021 Ghana Tourism Awards, and earning the M.I.C.E. Africa Company of the Year honour for Kaya Tours in 2018.
In 2020, he was awarded the EMY Africa Special Recognition Award for Tourism Promotion and Marketing, further cementing his legacy in the tourism industry.
ASKY Airlines, the largest foreign airline by frequency at Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport, celebrated Customer Service Week 2024 by engaging with key travel partners in Accra from October 7-13.
Led by Country Manager Worlanyo Afadzinu, the ASKY team visited offices of partners such as Satguru, Wakanow, Travel Matters, and Euro Tours.
During these visits, they addressed concerns about their products and services while providing physical demonstrations of solutions.
SITA is deploying its Smart Path technology at nine Indian airports in partnership with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) as part of the Digi Yatra initiative.
This contactless boarding pass system aims to reduce waiting times and enhance the travel experience while improving airport efficiency.
The installation marks the first phase of a July 2023 deal between SITA and AAI, which will upgrade technology at 43 airports and enhance over 2,700 passenger touchpoints.
