Arik Air, Eko Tourism Foundation move to strengthen Lagos tourism
The Eko Tourism Foundation (ETF) and Arik Air are exploring a strategic partnership aimed at positioning Lagos as Africa’s leading tourism destination.
The proposal emerged during a visit by the ETF Governing Board to Arik Air’s headquarters in Lagos on Wednesday, where both organisations discussed areas of collaboration to increase tourist traffic to Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
Speaking during the meeting, Chairman of the ETF Governing Board and Board of Trustees, Lai Mohammed, described aviation as a critical driver of tourism development, stressing that destinations can only thrive when they are easily accessible to visitors.
“Airlines are the gateway to tourism. Aviation and tourism are two wings of the same bird,” Mohammed said.
He noted that despite Lagos’ rich cultural heritage, beaches, nightlife and entertainment offerings, the city could not fully realise its tourism potential without dependable air connectivity.
Mohammed commended Arik Air for maintaining a strong domestic and regional network over the past two decades, linking major destinations including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Accra and Freetown.
He proposed a strategic alliance that would integrate tourism promotion into the airline’s operations through destination marketing campaigns, curated travel packages and incentives tied to major cultural, arts and entertainment events in Lagos.
“Together, the Eko Tourism Foundation and Arik Air can create a seamless, world-class experience that catches a traveller’s attention the moment they book a ticket and leaves them awestruck by the time they step out of Murtala Muhammed International Airport,” he said.
