WtNExpo Technical Session

Participation in WtNEx Conference and the Business Forum is free to all industry professionals and stakeholders, local and international investors, development partners, administrators, vendors of the industry and related sectors for participation.

BUSINESS. NETWORKING. LEISURE

Day 1:

 Infrastructure, Institutional Linkages & Sustainable Growth

Venue: Expo Centre, Main Conference Hall – Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja. 
Date: July 23 – 24, 2025

08:30 – 09:00 | Registration

  • Participants registration

  • Welcome drinks & light snacks

  • Networking opportunity

 

09:00 – 09:20 | Opening Ceremony & Welcome Address

  • Welcome Note: Senior Official from the Ministry of Tourism

  • Keynote: Introduction to the National Agenda for Tourism Partnership

  • Overview of objectives for the expo and technical sessions

  • Setting expectations for multi-stakeholder collaboration

 

Technical Sessions: Day 1

09:20 – 10:00 |

Session 1: Policy Framework & Institutional Linkages for Tourism Development

10:00 – 10:15 | Tea/Coffee Break

  • Refreshments served

  • Informal networking

Overview: National policies on tourism infrastructure and sustainable development

  • Panel Discussion Topics:

    • Role of government agencies in driving infrastructure investments

    • Creating effective institutional linkages between public and private sectors

    • Strategies to integrate tourism development into national development goals

  • Panelists: Representatives from government, private sector tourism bodies, and policy think tanks

  • Moderator: ?

10:15 – 11:00 

Session 2: Developing Tourism Infrastructure – Best Practices & Case Studies

  • Focus Areas:

    • Infrastructure development challenges and opportunities in tourism

    • Investment models and public-private partnerships

    • Case studies from regional tourism projects

  • Presentations:

    • Expert in Infrastructure Financing

    • Successful international case study showcases

  • Q&A Session: Interactive discussion with the audience

11:00 – 11:45 

Session 3: Marine and Blue Economy – Opportunities for Sustainable Tourism

Overview: The potential of marine and coastal assets in bolstering eco-tourism

  • Discussion Points:

    • Sustainable management of coastal resources

    • Innovations in marine transport and marine leisure tourism

    • Collaborative strategies for blue economy investments

  • Speakers: Marine economists, environmental experts, tourism strategists

  • Moderator: ? 

11:45 – 13:00

Working Lunch & Networking Session

  • Buffet lunch served on-site

  • Themed networking tables (Infrastructure, Institutional Linkages, Marine Economy, etc.)

  • Opportunity for exhibitors and participants to interact informally

13:00 – 13:45 

Session 4:  Aviation And Transport

– Bridging Distances, Connecting Destinations

  • Focus:

    • Innovations in air and ground transport for tourism

    • Infrastructure readiness for tourism growth

    • Case studies on successful airport and regional transport enhancements

  • Presenters:

    • Aviation infrastructure specialists

    • Transport policy experts

  • Interactive Discussion: Exploring next-generation transport solutions

13:45 – 14:30 

Session 5: Wildlife, Eco-Tourism and Environment – Balancing Growth with Conservation

  • Key Themes:

    • Best practices in eco-friendly tourism operations

    • Balancing commercial tourism growth with wildlife conservation

    • Role of technology in sustainable environmental management

  • Panel Discussion: Featuring national park authorities, eco-tour operators, environmental NGOs

  • Moderator: ?

14:30 – 14:45 | Afternoon Break

  • Light refreshments provided

14:45 – 16:00 | Interactive Workshop: Crafting a Roadmap for Sustainable Tourism Infrastructure

  • Breakout Groups: Participants to work on thematic clusters:

    • Marine and blue economy strategies

    • Enhancements in transport and aviation

    • Wildlife and eco-tourism sustainability

    • Integrating arts, culture and heritage

  • Workshop Goals:

    • Draft actionable recommendations

    • Identify key performance indicators and partnership opportunities

  • Facilitators: Industry experts and facilitators from relevant fields

16:00 – 16:30 | Plenary Session & Wrap-Up – Day 1 Reflections

  • Reports from breakout groups

  • Open floor for final thoughts and Q&A

  • Summary of key takeaways by the session moderator

  • Announcement of the Day 2 schedule

16:30 – 17:00 | Networking & Refreshments

  • Informal networking

  • Exchange of ideas and contacts for follow-up collaboration

Technical Session : Day 2

08:30 – 09:00 | Registration & Morning Coffee

  • Arrival of participants
  • Light breakfast and morning networking

09:00 – 09:15 | Welcome Back & Overview of Day 2

  • Recap of Day 1 highlights
  • Outline of Day 2’s focus on growth strategies and cultural integration

10:00 – 10:45

Session 6: Hospitality Sector – Elevating Service Standards and Guest Experiences

  • Discussion Points:
    • Trends in hospitality management and service delivery
    • Leveraging technology for improved guest experiences
    • Case studies of hospitality innovations and success stories
  • Speakers: Hospitality industry leaders and practitioners
  • Interactive Q&A: Engaging participants with success metrics and customer feedback strategies

10:45 – 11:00 | Tea/Coffee Break

  • Refreshments and short networking period

11:00 – 11:45

Session 7: Arts, Culture & Heritage – The Soul of Destination Marketing

  • Key Discussion Areas:
    • How arts, culture, and heritage enrich the tourist experience
    • Initiatives for preserving and promoting cultural assets
    • Integration of traditional heritage into modern tourism infrastructure
  • Panel Discussion: Involvement of cultural custodians, artists, tourism marketers, and government cultural agencies
  • Moderator: DG NCAC

11:45 – 12:30

Session 8: Panel Discussion – Synergy in Tourism: Integrating Sectoral Strengths for Comprehensive Growth

  • Panel Focus:
    • Discussion on cross-sectoral partnerships between infrastructure, hospitality, transport, culture, and conservation
    • Discussion on aligning public policy with private sector efforts for mutual benefit
    • Sharing success stories and identifying emerging challenges
  • Panelists: A multi-sector representation from marine, aviation, wildlife conservation, hospitality, and arts
  • Moderator: ?

12:30 – 13:30 | Networking Lunch

  • Buffet lunch served
  • Special designated “Collaboration Corners” for in-depth discussions on specific themes

14:15 – 15:00 | 

Session 9: Technology and Innovation in Tourism – Digital Transformation Roadmap

  • Focus Areas:
    • Digital solutions in travel and transportation, booking, and customer engagement
    • Smart infrastructure and the integration of IoT in tourism
    • Security, data analytics, and future trends in tourism technology
  • Presentations: A mix of technology start-ups and digital experts
  • Moderator: NCC

15:00 – 15:15 | Afternoon Break

  • Refreshments available

15:15 – 16:00 

Interactive Session: Developing Actionable Strategies for Sustainable Tourism

  • Workshop Format:
    • Discussion groups addressing cross-cutting issues such as sustainability, heritage conservation, and service excellence
    • Group presentations summarizing strategy proposals
    • Facilitation by experts to synthesize actionable next steps
  • Objective: Consolidate session insights into a strategic framework for tourism partnership

16:00 – 16:30

Closing Plenary & Keynote Address: “The Road Ahead – Envisioning a Resilient Tourism Sector”

  • Keynote Speaker: Distinguished industry leader/ministerial representative
  • Reflection on the two-day insights
  • Call to action and roadmap for the future of tourism partnerships
  • Final Q&A session with audience participation

16:30 – 17:00 | Closing Remarks & Networking

  • Summation of major outcomes
  • Awarding of certificates/commemorative items to speakers and participants
  • Final opportunity to network and set up follow-up meetings

Who Should Participate

Federal, state, local government ministries, agencies, authority, industry regulatory officials, administrators, culture experts, organisations, festivals, traditional ceremony management experts, cultural industry, local business owners, investors, aviation, transport, maritime experts, organisations, local and international hotel operators and food chain industry, shuttle, tour operators, tour guides, travel agencies, tourists, gallery,  arts collectors, museums, monuments operators, heritage, antiquities management experts, organisation, environment organisations and experts, wildlife, conservation experts, game reserves, national parks operators, destination management experts, organisation, travel and holiday planners, tourism developers, advocacy experts, organisations, recreational centres, craft, creative and entertainment experts and companies, white label management companies, media, PR/advertising experts and companies, consultants, lawyers, architects, construction companies, financial institutions, academics scholars, trade union and professional bodies, associations and others.

Register to participate