The Nation Newspaper

Category: Travels on Saturday

  • Amachree commiserates with Kano people

    Former President of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), Chief Mike Amachree, has commiserated with the family and people of Kano State on the death of foremost statesman, the late Alhaji Maitama Sule, who died recently.

    Amachree said Alhaji Sule was a true Nigerian who had so much love for Nigeria and everything Nigerian. He described the late statesman as “the man who spoke English better than an English man.’

    He said:“Alhaji Maitama Sule’s death is a great loss to the country. He was a person I interacted and worked with. He had so much passion for tourism and culture. He always wished to be involved in anything that would lead to the growth of the country.

    “We worked together in the early 90s when I was part of the organizing  committee that launched the Plateau Tourism Development Fund under the chairmanship of General Yakubu Gowon.  Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, was the special guest of honour  on the occasion.

    “Alhaji Maitama Sule was among those that convinced General Babangida to honour the event and was the Master of Ceremony. He carried out the job of raising funds for the development Plateau State tourism with  so much passion. He was a person that loved tourism and culture and lent his presence and wisdom to such events.”

    He is a person the nation would miss so much for his energy and passion for the country. May Allah grant his family, Kano State and the country at large the fortitude to bear the lost, Amachree said.

  • ANJET, others decry proposed NIHOTOUR bill before NASS

    ANJET, others decry proposed NIHOTOUR bill before NASS

    Travel and tourism writers in the country have joined other stakeholders to decry unfolding moves by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) to push through a bill presently before the National Assembly which seeks to confer on it the sole authority to regulate the industry.

    The writers under the aegis of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Editors of Tourism (ANJET), also an affiliate of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) who said ‘Nihotour has completely gone beyond its brief and what is expected of it’ described the proposed bill as ‘death knell of hospitality and tourism.’

    Tagged the; ‘Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism for Training of Personnel and Regulation of Professional Personnel Practices and Services of Hospitality and Tourism Activities in Nigeria and other related matters,’ the document seeks to effectively extend the control of the institute in industry practice.

    The proposed NIHOTOUR Bill which comes up for Public hearing, June 15, has continued to generate contempt within the tourism industry in the country as stakeholders flay the move by NIHOTOUR to establish the institute as regulatory and registration body for tourism establishments across the country.

    The tourism writers, who joined other stakeholders from travel agents, tour operators, park and leisure services providers, maintained that the proposed bill further compounds the precarious situation of tourism regulation in the country, as the agency itself should rather be seeking to grow its capacity in the field of training of industry practitioners.

    “If it is a training institute then it should restrict itself to that regardless of the NOC/NOS/NBTE provisions. What it is seeking to be with the full provisions of this bill is become omnibus body and ombudsman of tourism, which shouldn’t be.

    “If the bill is allowed to scale through, what then becomes the function of the NTDC and other agencies in the Culture, Tourism and Information Ministry, and by implication the value chain of tourism and other training institutions in the country?”

    According to ANJET, in the Hospitality and Tourism Establishment (Registration, Grading, and Classification) regulation bye-law enacted by the Federal Government in 1997, Section 1, Sub-Section 3 of that bye-law provides that no person shall operate a hospitality or Tourism establishment ‘unless he has obtained and in possession of a current certificate of registration from the Corporation,’ which by implication confers on the NTDC the duty of a regulator.

    “We also believe that the issue here should be about the National Assembly clarifying on the Supreme Court ruling of 19 July 2013 which validated both the Hotel Licensing Law of Lagos State (as amended) and the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Law of Lagos State, while the offending sections of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Act rendered null and void.

    “We recall that the Supreme Court in dismissing the case filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and upholding the contention of the Attorney General (AG) of Lagos State Mr. Ade Ipaye, held that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (CFRN) 1999 as amended, only empowers the National Assembly (NASS) to regulate tourist traffic, a term which does not extend to hotel registration or licensing,” ANJET posited.

    It was the view of the Supreme Court that the NTDC Act went beyond its powers as stated in the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution which is to regulate “tourist traffic”. This effectively challenged the constitutionality of the NTDC’s powers to unilaterally regulate and control of hotels and tourism in Nigeria. The court therefore validated the respective laws of Lagos State.

    According to ANJET, this issue of a recognized regulator should preoccupy the National Assembly members into quickly moving to resolve the issue rather than creating another platform for the emergence of another controversy within the industry, as there still remains grey areas in the law that needed to be sorted out to ensure proper growth and development in the industry.

    For instance, under the ‘Powers of the Institute,’ the institute wants to ‘set conditions and standards for institutions or organizations offering courses in hotel, catering, travel and tourism management or skill in Nigeria.’

    This, ANJET believes this segment is ‘as ambiguous as it is conflicting,’ considering that other agencies also perform the same function, just there is a vast divide separating all four sub-sectors of tourism practice, as well as its practitioners.

    While the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), described the move as ‘obnoxious,’ the Institute of Tourism Professionals, on its part, said the proposed bill negates the tenet of the Federal Government’s recently signed Executive Order which seeks to ease the process of doing business in the country, by creating ‘bottlenecks for tourism professionals.’

    “We must do all what is possible to stop this obnoxious bill. We should also be present at the public hearing to vehemently oppose the bill,” said ATPN.

    “The bill seeks to negate the new Executive Order of the Acting President on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria as it seeks to great Bottlenecks for Tourism Professionals Distinguished Senators are therefore urged not to support illegality,” said the Institute of Tourism Professionals.

    Also reacting, the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) said; ‘the proposed bill is an attempt to ‘corner and colonize Nigeria Tourism by a training school and should be discouraged wondering why an institute wants to overreach itself.’

    Similarly, a hospitality expert and scholar, Dr Wasiu Babalola called for the outright rejection of the proposed NIHOTOUR bill by the National Assembly.

    The outgoing Managing Director – Africa, Swiss International Hotels and incumbent Honorary Secretary, Institute of Hospitality UK in Nigeria said: “The bill should be rejected for the agency aiming beyond its mandate. Why should it try to define who a professional is?

    “When did government starts deciding who should be president / chairman of council of professional bodies? Why should the agency want to take over the powers of NUC and NBTE? The proposers of the bill are surely ill informed.”

    NIHOTOUR, an agency in the Ministry of Culture and Information, has two campuses has for some time come under heavy fire, as industry watchers insist the agency is challenged in its statutory role as a training institute established to boost capacity in the industry.

    The institute has two campuses located in Lagos and Oshogbo, the Osun State capital.

     

  • FTAN prepares for AGM

    The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has stepped up preparations for its 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM)  for the election of a new national executive council for the federation which is the umbrella body of all tourism associations in the country.

    Speaking on the meeting, which is scheduled to hold on 29 at NANET Suite, Abuja, at the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET) media forum, the president of the federation, Tomi Akingbogun, said it is going to be a milestone event in the annals of the federation and Nigerina tourism industry.

    According to him, all the federating associations, including government officials and private operators in the allied industries, are expected to attend the meeting with the theme: ‘Financing as a catalyst to a sustainable tourism development.’

    The key speakers are to address the issue of funding for tourism, which he said, is the bane of developing and marketing the tourism industry.

    Akingbogun said he would use the occasion to give account of his leadership of the federation in the last four years having served two terms of two years each.

    He disclosed that a lot of achievements were recorded during these four years despite the challenges that the federation had to contend with.

    Besides celebrating the milestones of his regime, he promised members an exciting and fulfilling time during the one-day AGM.

  • Motherland Beckons unfolds Destination Al Nejashi/Lalibela

    The Tigray region of Ethiopia is fascinating for its rich history as well as the rugged terrain. It is the home to ancient kingdoms like the Axum and Yeha. It is also home to the first mosque in the world.

    In the light of this, Motherland Beckons is unveiling to Nigerians and the world a holiday package for Nigerians and the people from all over the world to visit Al Negashi and Lalibella, the two holy sites in Ethiopia for Christians and Moslems.

    The formal launch of Motherland Beckons Destination Al Nejashi and Lalibela was recently held at La Campagne Beach Resort, Ikegun, Lagos State.

    Destination Al Nejashi and Lalibela, which is Motherland Beckons’ activation and otherwise known as East and West amalgamation through tourism and creative arts, is part of effort by the organization to bridge the gap between the different regions of Africa and the rest of the world.

    The launch was attended by the founder of Motherland Beckons, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, the Ethiopian Ambassador to Nigeria, Samia Zekaria Gutu, and the General Manager of Ethiopian Airlines, Nigeria, Solomon Begashaw, and other guests.

    It was a colourful event which witnessed a mix of entertainment by Atunda Entertainment. Accompanied by the orchestra of Atunda Entertainment, the trio of Anu The Lady Ekwu, Olo Midan Bata and Ara (Thunder) gave a powerful and moving rendition of both Nigerian and Ethiopian national anthems which were well received by the audience.

    Akinboboye talked about the concept of Destination Al Nejashi and Lalibela as he spoke extensively on the historical and economic derivatives of the project. He paid glowing tributes to the Ethiopia nation for standing against the divisive war of the colonialists by resisting every attempt at colonising it.

    He said the symbolism of the war won by the Ethiopians and made reference to Al Nejashi which is a mountainous region and what it meant to the people playing on the symbolism and slogan of the people known as “Gara le Gara” or “Mountain to Mountain.”

    Continuing, Akinboboye disclosed that ”the essence of our gathering this afternoon is to share from that strength and that conviction and vision that when we are together everything is possible. Not just the strength that you derive, but the platform that you create from it that will enable you create industry and develop your economy.

    ”There is so much that we can learn from each other and we can discover great things together as a people,” he said, adding that ”the continent of Africa will not know progress until we decide to come together.”

    He insisted that ”we must create prosperity together and when we create prosperity ultimately we create unity.”

    Therefore, the essence of the east and west amalgamation is to forge unity and release the creative potency that would enhance the economic growth of the people and development of the continent.

    According him,” tourism and creative arts are where the economic salvation of the continent lies, saying that ”for over 30 years I have held the belief that tourism can create prosperity for us and for over 30 years, La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort has created wealth and prosperity for its community.”

    He revealed that ”it took a concerted plan and effort to remove from Africa its soul, which is its culture and it will take also a concerted effort and plan by us, Africans, to get it back.”

    Destination Al Nejashi and Lalibela is to him part of the concerted effort and plan to regain the lost soul of Africa and implode its economy.

    ”We are gathered here today to begin the journey of the east and west amalgamation through tourism and creative arts because when we travel within our continent, we begin to build our economy and our creative forces will come to being,”he said.

    According to him, the bridge building process would be in two parts with the first being the creation and promotion of tour packages to Al Nejashi and Lalibela, two great historical sites in Ethiopia, with each having their respective strong attractions for the people.

    The tour packages would involve the long stretch of value chain in the travel business with Ethiopian holidays serving as the ground handlers, Ethiopian Airlines as the official carrier and Mountain  Ice  Consultancy, Travels and Tours Limited as the tour company, all working closely with Motherland Beckons to achieve the aim of the amalgamation.

    The second part of the deal as revealed by Akinboboye is the building of La Campagne Mountain Resort Al Nejashi. The resort, which is soon to commence construction, he said, would be a themed resort that would utilise extensively the cultural materials of the people of Ethiopia and the region.

    Ambassador Gutu amplified Akinboboye’s submission, giving credence to the amalgamation project which, according to her, is opening her country to the world even as she insisted that Ethiopia has a lot to offer to the world.

    Given its historical and political antecedents, as a country that was never conquered by the colonialists, she said that Africans and the world have a lot to learn from the country, hence the country is teaming up with Motherland Beckons to promote two of its most revered locations.

    The ambassador is elated about the prospect of the project as she promised visitors a swell and fun-filled time in the country, even as she disclosed effort at improving on its environment and creating the necessary infrastructure for tourism to thrive.

    ”Though we don’t have beaches, but we would use our Gara le Gara to entertain you,” she said joyfully, adding that ”we want to build synergy in Africa by working with Africans to build Africa.”

    On the proposed resort, she expressed delight over it and the eagerness to see it come to fruition soonest.

    ”We are going to start with our brother Wanle Akinbobye as he is going to put up a place like this (reference to La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort) in Ethiopia. We can’t wait for it to come to life because it is going to serve as a boost to developing our tourist attractions,” said Gutu.

    On his part, Begashaw assured of a seamless travel as he said that ”we are here to partner and ensure that it works to the best interest of our tourists. We would do everything possible to make it work.”

  • NCAC planning cultural golf competition – Runsewe

    Speaking as the special guest of honour at a recently concluded women’s golf day held at the IBB international golf course, Abuja, the Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, has said plans are in top gear to ensure a groundbreaking cultural golf tournament is staged which promises to be the first of its kind in history.

    He disclosed this to women golfers who turned up to mark the occasion, promising to make the proposed cultural golf tourney a truely Nigerian cultural platform where all kits of the golfers shall be made in Nigeria.

    He announced that “our fabric is our pride; we are going to make all the golfers dress in our local textile outfits during the tournament”

    He said: “My vision is that any culture approach we initiate should result in creation of jobs for Nigerians. Culture is all about sports and we need all these in our upcoming event.”

    Runsewe said he had done a research recently and discovered that, if Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal play today, they would not make one-third of the appearance fee of the renowned golfer, Tiger Woods.

    He further stated that golf is the biggest network in the world going by the huge benefits it can bring to the economy of both the developed and the developing nations.

    He said: “It is a game that ensures ones body chemistry is actively alive when playing; worries are forgotten on the course”.

  • Tourism stakeholders honour Mike Amachree

    Former President of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), Chief Mike Amachree, was honoured by tourism stakeholders with the Father of Tourism award for his commitment to the growth of tourism industry in the country.

    The award was bestowed on him at the recent Bantaba tourism event held recently at  Edge Hotel Resort, Port Harcourt, River  State.

    According to Mr. Ikechi Uko, the organizer of the event, after the role of the late Mr. Matts Da Silva in the growth of tourism in the country, Amachree is the next tourism icon that played a significant role in the growth of tourism in Nigeria.

    Uko commended Amachree’s drive for tourism development through massive investment in the hospitality business in the country like his newly built Port  Harcourt Beach Resort, Brooklyn Tourist Centre along East-West Road, Port Hacourt, apart from   hotels in Abuja, Lagos and  Buguma, his home town. Uko commended his role in galvanizing tourism industry practitioners towards recognition and development in the sector.

    He maintained that the contribution of Amachree to the growth of the Nigerian tourism is something that has been unanimously agreed by all tourism stakeholders.

    He further said after the death of Pa Da Silva, the Nigerian tourism industry needs another father figure like Amachree to continue to promote and propagate the importance of the sector.

    Amachree expressed happiness for being recognized with such an honour. He used the opportunity to thank the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike for the ambitious project he has embarked upon-the Port Hacourt Leisure Park.

    He said when the project is completed, it will not only attract local visitors, but also foreign tourists.

    Amachree, over the years, has served in various capacities both in the private and public sectors in his efforts to promote tourism. He was a board member of the Nigerian Tourism Board (NTB) which was transformed to the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). He represented the culture and tourism sector in  the Vision 2010. He also represented the country in the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

    Among guests present at the event were foreign dignitaries, including the Minister of Finance of Jamaica, the Junior  Minister of Tourism of Zimbabwe, representatives of  Dubai Tourism, representatives of South African Tourism, the President of Nigerian Tour Operators, Nkereuwen Onung, leading Nigerian tour operator, Mr. Jemi Alade, Special Adviser to the Abia State Governor on Tourism, Mrs. Nkechi Nwaba, Mr. Steve Isokariari of the NANTA  and many other dignitaries

  • Ibis unveils special treat for Easter

    Ibis Hotel, Ikeja,  is set for the Easter festivities with a special family buffet for visitors  made up of all-day dining restaurant daily.

    There will also be special cocktails and a variety of special buffet menu ranging from Nigerian dishes to international cuisines for the festivities. From the entertainment at the Poolside Lounge and Pool Terrace, every day will bring excitement to the whole family.

    The Sales and Marketing Manager, Mrs. Deborah Ifejokwu, said this is a way of participating in the season of celebration as the package has its own uniqueness and this entails a lot of surprises at an affordable price.

    This will also make our guests feel very special as Ibis makes a daily commitment to offer its customers the highest level of service, efficiency, hospitality and comfort.

    Today, it is the only European economy hotel chain that provides around-the-clock availability of the main hotel services in all its hotels.

    Ibis Hotel is situated at the heart of Ikeja, a few minutes’ drive away from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. It is noted for a good night’s sleep at the best price.

  • Gani Adams to FG: use tourism to develop Nigeria

    National Coordinator of the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC) , Otunba Gani Adams, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to use tourism as a tool for national development and progress.

    The OPC boss, while speaking in the 2017 edition of the Eledumare Festival  held recently at the National Arts Theatre, Lagos,  called for the renovation of all national monuments.

    Adams also urged the different tiers of government to harness the tourism potential in the country, so that Nigeria  can become a tourist destination. This, he said, would help in creating other avenues for generating income for the country.

    He said: “I appeal to both the states and federal government to harness the tourism potential in the country.

    “Nigeria, no doubt, can become a tourist destination in the world, if the government could tap into the tourism potential that abounds in various parts of the country. This is very important at a time like this when oil dependency seems to be leading us nowhere.

    “The need to tap at the resources for the better life of the ordinary citizens is important and tourism is one huge asset for the country, especially now that the sector is becoming a huge business in the world.”

    On the Eledumare Festival, Adams said it was important to celebrate cultural heritage.  We should also play significant roles in identifying our creator as a race.

    He said the Eledumare Festival is an important festival.He said: It is important in the sense that Eledumare is the supreme being that controls the earth and heaven. Believers in various religious denominations believe in the supremacy of God, the omnipotent and the omniscience.  Moslems call Eledumare Allah,  Christians call Him Jehovah and in the Yoruba language we call him Eledumare.”

    Adams  harped on the need to promote the Yoruba language. He said: “ The Yoruba language is important to our cultural development as a people, and we can hardly make any meaningful progress if we continue to disregard our language”.

  • Southern Sun Ikoyi consolidates service delivery

    Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, has said that the hotel would continue to pay greater attention to impeccable service delivery to its clientele as a way of sustaining its leading position in Nigeria’s hospitality market.

    This was disclosed by the hotel’s general manager, Mr. Mark Loxley. He said despite the biting recession, the hospitality industry has never proved more challenging and also exciting than it is today.

    He continued: “Thanks to the stability of democracy in the country in recent years, the influx of investors has been positively impactful in creating a highly competitive environment, ensuring that to succeed in business, one’s operation must be the best in class.

    “Business, and in particular the hospitality business, is not different when aiming for excellence and this has been latched on to by the hotel’s management team in running the best hotel and restaurant in town, the critical aim for the hotel through the years, has been to keep its customers happy always.”

    He said in achieving this, the hotel embarked on refurbishment plans, to maintaining a world-class contemporary style and relaxing ambience.  It adopted no short cuts to excellence, the strategy for consistently being the best is constantly reviewed.

    Loxley said  guests do not expect to be told that the hotel will be perfect in a few years’ time, as exceptional service, enthusiasm and high standards in all departments do not need capital expenditure.

  • Ethiopian Airlines wins Cargo Award

    Ethiopian Airlines, has won ‘Cargo Airline Award for Network Development’ at the tenth anniversary of the Brussels Airport Aviation Awards.

    The Network Development Awards are presented to airlines that have developed new routes or achieved a remarkable growth in passengers or cargo. As a result, the ‘Network Development Award Cargo Airline’ award was awarded to Ethiopian Cargo in recognition to the commitment of the airline to rapidly expand its cargo network and for becoming the largest cargo airline at Brussels Airport in just 6 months period.

    Ethiopian Group CEO, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, remarked: “We are very pleased to be the winner of such a prestigious award. The award boosts our energy to serve our customers’ air cargo needs better. Ethiopian cargo services connects African economies with the rest of the world in import of industrial goods and export of commodities which are both the engine of the socio economic development in today’s highly globalized world.

    “With six new and modern B-777F and two  B-757F all cargo airplanes complemented by the vast network of belly hold capacity on our passenger wide body airplanes, Ethiopian cargo is currently the largest cargo airline in the continent of Africa.

    “ We are grateful to our dedicated cargo team, our global cargo customers and particularly to our Belgian partners who have made our cargo hub in Europe a resounding success.

    “ With the inauguration of the largest and the most modern cargo terminal in Africa, with annual cargo capacity of 600 thousand tons, in the coming couple of months; we will transform Addis Ababa as one of the best Cargo Hubs in the air cargo industry.”