With the continued fall in crude oil prices in the global market, resulting in dwindling revenue, rising inflation, and job losses across the economy, stakeholders in the Nigerian tourism and hospitality market are calling on government to take advantage of the great prospect that the sector offers.
Giving example of countries which depend largely on tourism for sustenance, the stakeholders observed that success was attained by articulating carefully thought-out policies, identifying and upgrading tourism infrastructure and selecting capable and well motivated personnel.
“At present, the industry contributes a meager 1.5 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). So, we need a Tourism Minister who cares about these figures and is ready to do something, collaborate with the private sector, ensure enabling regulations and truly offer an enabling environment for investments in the sector”, Aliyu Makama, a hotelier, said.
In the same vein, Ikechi Uko, CEO, Akwaaba African Travel Market, said the sector can count if the new government gives tourism development priority attention, makes the so called ‘friendly business environment’ a reality than mere political promise, review the laws and policies that will enable the private sector to truly drive tourism development in the country, as obtains in developed economies, among others.
Citing Dubai which he describes as a desert that now lures the world to its man-made attractions, as an example, Uko said Nigeria has more tourism potential (natural and made-made) that can woo millions of tourists across the world, and consequently earn the country millions of dollars in tourist receipt.
Apart from the substantial visitors and tourists receipt that will accrue in, the job opportunities that could be opened in the industry would certainly be welcome in this era of massive unemployment in the land, stakeholders said.
Uko also observed that developing, standardising and repackaging tourism products in the country are imperative because of the competitive tourism market across the world. In doing that, the country, according to him, will woo those who ordinarily would prefer visiting other African countries, which through strategic investment in infrastructure, product development and aggressive marketing, have positioned themselves as prime destinations in Africa.
Shola Ilupeju, a tour operator and tourism consultant, said though there have been efforts at marketing Nigeria at the global level by some concerned tourism stakeholders, in an attempt to transform travel and tourism into an economically viable industry, there is need for drastic improvement of the country’s tourism-related infrastructure.
“We cannot bring people from places where electricity, water, good roads and security, among others, are all taken for granted, and expect them to pay for darkness, drought, pot-holes, insecurity and get kidnapped.
“ There is specific need for substantial development of tourism infrastructure and facilities that would enable tourists get to their destinations with minimum inconvenience”, Ilupeju said.
Makama also said the country should improve on its bad image outside its shores, which tend to paint it bad and discourage visitors, while there should serious commitment to efforts at tackling the insecurity situation in the country.
Majority of the stakeholders urged the incoming minister to revise and update the recommendations contained in the Tourism Masterplan, develop world class Tourism and products and facilities via clusters, initiate and support funding for tourism development by creating a tourism development fund (TDF) for small scale empowerment, enhance the capacity and effectiveness of regulatory agencies, among others.
OBINNA EMELIKE
