Africa Travel WeekMeet Kayode Adeshola, a self-proclaimed hodophile (one who loves to travel). He has been fortunate to globetrot from Durban to Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa to Niagara Falls in Canada, Kidepo and Murchison Falls in Uganda, Mombasa and Nairobi in Kenya, Kigali in Rwanda, Serengeti and Ngorogoro crater in Tanzania, and the list goes on…
His travel experiences have helped him become an important voice in the Nigerian travel and tourism sector and currently holds the position of Co-Founder/Owner of Capstone Travels and Tours Ltd established in May 2008. He is also the Founder and President of TourismPlusNG and runs the WhatsApp-based platform called Travel Buff where industry matters are discussed among 250 followers.
How did you fall in love with travelling or start working within the industry as a career?
I fell in love with travelling after having worked as a security personnel under someone who had travelled extensively before returning to Nigeria to establish the company. I then joined the industry after having lived with my sister who was already in the Industry.
What kind of traveller are you?
I go with the flow. I travel at any time when the need arises. Travelling is my hobby and profession.
Tell us about one of your most memorable trips/travel moments. Where and why?
One of my most memorable trips was one of the many that I have embarked on to Cape Town where we were taken on a road trip through the Garden Route and got to experience some of the local wine farms.
What lessons have you learnt from your experience during COVID – both personally and in your business?
I have learnt that having more than one stream of income is important for those working with the aviation, tourism and hospitality Industry. I have also learnt that online visibility is necessary for any form of business, especially ours.
I have come to understand that tourism is an important sector of any economy and has the capacity to take a country out of its economic challenges. I have also learnt that collaboration is a tool for greatness. No man or business is an Island. African countries have the potential to be among the top 50 economies in the world due to their tourism sectors. And lastly, I have learnt that through travel and tourism, Africa will have a quick recovery from the effects of the pandemic.
How confident are you that the travel and tourism industry in Africa will survive & prosper over the next 2-3 years?
With the diverse offering of tourism and travel products in Africa, I am confident Africa, as a whole, will survive and prosper over the next 2-3 years especially South Africa, with trade events like Indaba, and WTM Africa, Meetings Africa etc. as well as various popular tourist sites that have the potential to help boost the economy by adding to the GDP. I am sure, now that borders are open for tourists and visitors (in South Africa), that the tourism industry will bounce back into the limelight. It is time for Africa to buy and sell Africa products.
Based on the five senses and thinking about travelling what do you…
- Like to see: Friendly South Africans in the sector who have been given more visible support from the government as a tool for recovery.
- Like to taste: The local cuisine and various wines heading into the Garden Route in South Africa.
- Like to feel: Love and being safe wherever and whenever I travel to new destinations.
- Like to hear: The sound of wildlife at any new destinations and the positive effect of tourism on the GDP in time of this global economic recovery.
- Like to smell: The air and breeze at various airports when first stepping off a plane.
Lastly, what do you love about Africa Travel Week (WTM Africa) and do you think live trade shows will still be important going forward?
I absolutely love and appreciate the networking and business opportunities available during WTM Africa. It offers an incredible atmosphere where one can easily discover new products and negotiate business deals. Live trade shows will definitely return, with the live/hybrid 2021 event combing back with a bang, offering a much-needed platform to kick-start a speedy recovery for tourism.
