The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies and Turkish Airlines’ management are in talks to explore ways of collaborating for mutual benefit.

The NANTA team, led by its President, Yinka Folami, visited Istanbul, Turkey, for a five-day business meeting.

A statement by NANTA said that apart from having a business meeting with the management of the partly Asian carrier, the Nigerian travel agents’ delegation would also meet with travel trade groups in the country.

It also has the association’s executive council members as part of the delegation.

The meeting, which is at the instance of Turkish Airlines, would also dwell on the strategies to improve the airline’s robust presence as the first choice of Nigerian passengers.

The statement further noted that it is expected to impact and highlight new areas of collaboration and partnership between the two sister organisations, particularly in areas of opening new streams of income for NANTA members.

Speaking on the initiative, Folami said that the relationship was made for the future of Nigerian travellers. He said the meeting with Turkish Airlines was timely and clearly showed that the carrier was concerned about the growth of Nigeria’s travel trade professionals.

He said, “This is a relationship made for the future, carefully curated to make the Nigerian travel trade market strong and robust. We are here to listen and learn.

“It is an opportunity that we cannot toy with because it is a huge investment in our future by Turkish Airlines, and we hope our other principals will emulate this transformative milestone.”

Other team members are: Chinyere Umeasiegbu, first Deputy President; Dr Dagunduro Olatokunbo, second Deputy President; Mr Yinka Ladipo, National Financial Secretary; Mrs Adelola Adewole, National Publicity Secretary; Mr. Johnson Ugochukwu, National Internal Auditor; Mrs. Kemabonta Ibiwari, Vice President, Abuja Zone; Mr. Yinka Olapade, Vice President, Lagos Zone and Vice President, Northern Zone, Mohammad Nasir Chamo.