The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) and the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB) have joined forces to address the stringent visa regimes imposed by both countries, hindering trade and tourism between Nigeria and Türkiye.
The two organizations appealed to their respective governments to relax visa requirements, particularly for travelers holding valid visas from countries such as the UK, Schengen Countries, Canada, and the US.
NANTA in a press statement says, the meeting, held in Istanbul, highlighted the challenges faced by Turkish investors and tourists seeking to visit Nigeria, as well as the difficulties encountered by Nigerian travelers attempting to enter Türkiye.
Both parties agreed to present their concerns to their respective authorities and work towards signing a memorandum of understanding to promote tourism exchange visits, training, and cooperation.
NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami, expressed gratitude for the warm reception from TURSAB and extended an invitation to the Turkish organization to attend NANTA’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2026.
Mr. Folami also announced that Turkish Airlines would be the official partner airline for the event.
TURSAB Vice President, Mr. Davut Gunaydin, echoed the sentiments, emphasizing the need to increase tourism traffic between the two countries.
He noted that while Türkiye welcomes millions of visitors annually, the number of Nigerian visitors is negligible, despite Nigeria’s reputation for having a large traveling population.
Mr. Gunaydin suggested that NANTA could help change this trend by promoting Türkiye as a destination and recommending trustworthy Nigerian travelers to visit the country.
The meeting also touched on the issue of Nigerian visitors who have disappeared after their visas expired, contributing to the current challenges in obtaining visas for Nigerian travelers.
Mr. Gunaydin proposed that NANTA profile and recommend Nigerian visitors to help prevent such incidents and facilitate smoother visa processing.
The groundbreaking meeting, facilitated by Turkish Airlines, marks the beginning of a collaborative effort between NANTA and TURSAB to foster stronger ties and promote tourism between Nigeria and Türkiye.
