World Travel Awards has been forced to postpone its Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2014, scheduled to take place at the Nigerian capital Abuja on September 5th.
The decision follows the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in sections of West Africa.
While only two cases of the virus have been reported in Africa’s most populous nation, World Travel Awards and Transcorp Hilton Abuja have taken the decision to ensure the safety of guests.
World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke said: “It is with great sadness that we have been forced to postpone our much anticipated Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony at this time. However, we are confident, along with our partners at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, that World Travel Awards will be able to visit Nigeria for the first time in 2015 to stage the event.
Commenting on the postponement, Transcorp Hilton Abuja General Manager Etienne Gailliez said: “We regret the turn of events leading to the postponement of the Africa & India Ocean Gala Ceremony.
“However, the safety and security of our guests remain of paramount importance even as we still look forward to hosting the event on a larger scale come 2015.”
Abuja, Nigeria, was expected to be the fourth stop on the World Travel Awards annual Grand Tour.
The tour began at the JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai, in May, with the second stop taking place at Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso on August 2nd. World Travel Awards next visits Quito, in Ecuador, on August 9th, before reaching The Oberoi, New Delhi, India on October 10th.
The sunshine island of Anguilla will complete the line up later in the year, before the World Travel Awards heads for Morocco for the Grand Final 2014 on November 29th.
Air flights cancelled for Ebola
Meanwhile , West African carrier ASKY Airlines has cancelled all flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone as fears over the outbreak of the Ebola virus there continue to spread.
The carrier has suspended all flights to and from Freetown and Monrovia last week
A statement from the carrier said: “Due to increased concerns about the Ebola virus in our region, ASKY has taken the following steps in order to maximize safety concerns for our customers.
“ASKY is determined to keep its passengers and staff safe during this unsettling time.
“ASKY is following the situation closely and will issue updates as the situation changes.”
Arik Air has also suspended its flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone, as UN figures said more than 672 people have been killed by the virus in West Africa.
The outbreak was first reported in Guinea in February and spread.
Source: Weekly Holiday
