The National Association of Zoological Gardens (NAZG) has identified ecotourism as one of the areas Nigeria’s government should develop in the efforts to diversify the economy. NAZG, in a release, said the country should look to ecotourism for the much needed succour for the people, with zoological gardens and parks taking the lead in terms of visitor traffic and experience.
The association said the latent potentials inherent in these conservation enclaves that are devoted to education, research, recreation and sustainable development as a whole are unquantifiable, but all suffering prolonged neglect from government and related stakeholders. NAZG therefore called for closer attention and proper funding for these veritable ecological heritages, so as to open them for better utilization and generation of revenue for the country and its people.
NAZG clearly stated thus: ”With proper funding of Zoological gardens and parks in Nigeria, it is envisaged by the Association that this sector will reduce the burden of mono-economy by helping to attract more capital investment and generating more foreign currency, thereby boosting Nigeria’s economy. More importantly, it will conserve our natural endowment for the next generation yet unborn.”
This call by the association formed part of a 15 point communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council’s two-day working visit to Jos, the Plateau State capital. The working visit was in connection with the recent incident of a lion escape at the Jos Wildlife Park and Zoological Gardens, as well as the various issues confronting the conservation and management of zoological gardens and parks across the country.
Amongst key statements in the communiqué, ”NAZG hereby calls on Plateau State government and all other stakeholders of zoos and wildlife parks in the country to strictly adhere to international standards and practices, in order to avoid trauma to wildlife and other embarrassing circumstances.”
Also to stem this tide, the association has committed itself to visiting all zoological gardens and parks in the country, in phases, with the hope of providing technical and consultancy services, as well as ensuring that ”each zoo visited will be provided with detailed reports of its current status and areas that need immediate attention for improvement of such zoological gardens and parks,”; so stated the Association in the communiqué, which was signed by both its National President, Dr. Olujumoke Morenikeji of the Botanical and Zoological department of University of Ibadan and its National Secretary, Andy Ehanire of Ogba Zoological Garden and Nature Park, Benin City, Edo State.
Hilton to open Legend Hotel Hilton Worldwide has reached an agreement with Quits Hospitality Ltd to open its first property under the Curio , a collection by Hilton brand in Africa. The Legend Hotel is expected to open in mid-2016 and will be located at Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Nigeria.
The Legend Hotel, to be located within the airport boundaries, will feature 54 guest rooms, including eight suites. Travellers will benefit from the hotel’s unrivalled proximity to the international airport terminal, as well as exclusive facilities for private jet and corporate jet passengers of ExecuJet which will allow passengers same-building access to the arrivals and departures services of this private aviation company.
Launched in June 2014, the Curio collection is a global set of remarkable upscale and luxury hotels hand-picked for their unique character and personality; each one a part of the city they call home. By partnering with Hilton, these one-of-a-kind hotels benefit from the proven track record and quality synonymous with Hilton without redefining the individualistic spirit of the hotel. Global destinations available to travellers now include more than 80 properties open or in various stages of development, including Germany, the U.S., Jamaica and Argentina.
Africa’s largest technological and new media conference, Social Media Week Lagos, has set the stage for Lufthansa to introduce its new regional social media customer experience.
On the same panel with the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos State, Mr Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, Senior Manager Customer, Product and Marketing Sub-Saharan Africa, Mrs Adenike Macaulay, introduced Lufthansa’s new social media strategy.
“Our customers can now get in touch with us through our Facebook platform in a direct way,” said Macaulay.
Lufthansa, social media activities are centralized in Frankfurt, Lufthansa’s hub in Germany. However, Lagos will from now on function as the social media centre for Sub-Saharan Africa.
“We will engage more with our fans who have been following us for years, and respond to enquiries quicker , while inspiring them to travel to and from Nigeria with Lufthansa,” she added.
This was in the same spirit with Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos State, Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, who at the panel pointed out the need for soft power approach to make Lagos and Nigeria more attractive as a tourist destination.
”Let’s give Lagos a chance. Let us consume more of Lagos and Nigeria and drive local consumption“, said Folarin-Coker. The Commissioner for Tourism introduced the Lagos initiative “One Lagos“, a marketing platform with a focus of a „new Lagos story“. Already, the megacity has the most number of hotel rooms of any African city.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, also discussed his desire for the city. “We want
The new social media channel gives the regional Lufthansa team the possibility to communicate to a wider audience destinations especially for example to the Nigerian, Kenyan or South African taste. Special campaigns like the upcoming soccer Europe championship can be promoted. Every month, inspirations to destinations that are off the beaten tracks in London, Paris and New York can be found on the Lufthansa initiated Facebook conversations
Former Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, has called on tourism practitioners in Nigeria to wake up to their responsibilities by holding the leaders of the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) accountable.
Runsewe was reacting to the recent National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) recognition award presented to him in Calabar.
He noted that the industry leadership needs total overhauling in view of its lack of presence and very poor advocacy for tourism change in Nigeria, particularly at this time when Nigeria needs help to diversify its economy.
Runsewe, who was a recipient of NATOP award for major tourism contribution during his tenure in office, noted that time has come to rebrand the industry, appreciating the fact that tourism is better than oil because it is the highest employer of labour in the world.
He however commended NATOP for showing robust capacity to analyse national tourism issues and also for having a sense of history for choosing to confer an award on him for his modest contribution to growth of Nigerian tourism.
In a letter to the president of NATOP dated 19th February, and personally signed by him, Otunba Runsewe, who is now the Chairman, Golf Garden Waterfront, an upscale golf sports tourism resort in Abuja and first of its kind in Africa, stated that NATOP has always played vital roles in setting the tourism message right in Nigeria.
In the year 2000, a group of tourism enthusiasts under the aegis of the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) took a “faith visit” to Calabar, the Cross River State capital. They were led by the then President of NATOP, Mrs. Fatimah Garbati. The idea was to look at tourism prospects in Cross River State and possibly advise the government of the state, which had shown enthusiasm, to go the way of tourism, how to go about.
It was a visit that changed the fortune of tourism in Nigeria and the process midwifed what has become Nigeria’s first tourism destination. It was from the meeting of NATOP operators and the then first lady of Cross River, Mrs. Onari Duke, that the annual “Africa Biggest Street Party”, Calabar Carnival, came to fruition. Other tourism projects equally followed.
On Thursday, February 11, at the banquet hall of the Transcorp Hotel, Calabar, a happy Mrs. Garbati, casting her mind back to the teething stage of Destination Cross River, exclaimed: “ We never knew it was going to be as big as this.” Calabar has become the annual holiday destination for many Nigerian and foreigners and they come to participate in the 16 km-dance train call Carnival Calabar.
The city itself has taken the hue of a tourist destination. From the Marina leisure complex, historical sites like the walls of the colonial prison, the National Museum complex, the Millennium Park, the old Calabar areas like the Duke town, the city has become the tourism capital of Nigeria. Even during the low season, the non-festival period, the streets are kept spotless. The traffic is nothing to be worried about. The food culture is alive kicking.
It was because of this that NATOP returned 16 years after to the city they helped transform. It was for the annual general meeting with the theme, “Nigerian Tourism: The missing link in the diversified economy”.
Speaking on the topic, renowned economist, Professor Pat Utomi, went down memory to bemoan how the country’s over reliance on oil has destroyed Nigeria’s economic growth. He insisted that it was a blessing that the global price of oil has fallen as it makes the country think of alternatives.
NATOP President Nkereuwem Onung said holding the association’s AGM in Calabar was like home coming for them.
He said: “ Nigeria is the biggest suppliers of tourists in the continent of Africa. Even though we have more of outbound tourists, that is how it is supposed to be. We have different classes of tour operators, the outbound and in-bound. Like you will agree, even though tourism has suffered a setback in the continent last year, we have a shrink of three per cent in terms of arrivals, as against a four per cent increase of the previous year.
“What we are saying is that despite the setback, NCAA still told us that Nigerians spent about 1.5 billion dollars on airline tickets last year. That makes us a veritable partner in the industry. We have always been at the forefront of tourism, no matter how you look at it. So, the AGM this year is to give our tour operators a new direction.
“That new direction is that we know most of you are marketing other destinations, but we need to also bring people to Nigeria which is a core mandate of the association . Beyond regulating the way tour operators behave in terms of fair practices and all of that, we also need to market Nigeria as a destination.
“We went to look at what happened in Calabar in the year 2000 when NATOP, with the Cross River State government kick-started what is today Destination Cross River. NATOP members were in the forefront of doing that. We also want to make everybody understand that if we did that with Cross River, we can do that with any other state that is willing to partner us.
“Outside partnering Cross River State to give birth to destination that is creating impact, you will agree that NATOP was part of the Seven Wonders of Nigeria. I think that what we did was that we did our best to say look, we have qualified destinations in Nigeria that is worth marketing.
“We have, as a body, participated in the World Travel Market in 2012, the first by private operators other than NTDC staff . In 2012, Otunba Segun Runsewe accorded us that privilege whereby we had tour operators in their number manning the Nigeria stand, asking questions and networking. All these, among others, were what we tried to do.”
This, she said, informed her presence at the event since it was the tour operators that would package tourists to cultural events in the country. She used the opportunity to unfold the pet project agency.
She said: “The dwindling oil price and its attendant effect on the Nigerian economy has again brought to the fore the imperatives and urgency to revisit and commit ourselves to the diversification of the national economy.
“This is why our discussion here this is very important as those of us in the industry must help create the awareness and knowledge that is required to place the creative industry on the same pedestal like oil, solid mineral and agriculture.
“This is necessary because we need to change the perception and the way culture is viewed, especially by policymakers and encourage them to see and appreciate culture of which the creative industry is part of an economic prism. Like any other economic sector, it needs support, it needs investment, it needs infrastructure and above all, it needs the conducive environment to grow and develop. That is the crux of my paper today.
“Allow me speak first, of the National Council for Arts and Culture, our mandate, what we do and our plans for the future especially as it concerns tourism. The National Council for Arts and Culture was created in 1975 as a front-line agency of the now Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.
“It has the responsibility for the overall co-ordination, development and promotion of the living arts and culture in Nigeria. As part of its core mandate, NCAC is saddled with the responsibility to foster the development, appreciation and promotion of literary, visual and performing arts and culture. It is also expected to identify, develop and promote the country’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Indeed l should inform this August gathering that NCAC has a very ambitious plan to introduce more specialized festivals between now and 2017.
These are: The National Durbar Festival; the National Boat Regatta Festivals; the National Masquerade Festival; the Festival of Nigeria Contemporary Arts; the National Folk Songs Festival and traditional textiles and fashion fair.
“The rational for these are obvious or should be clear. First, it is in fulfilment of the core mandate of NCAC, which is the coordination, development and promotion of the living arts and culture of Nigeria. Secondly, festivals are today recognized as one of the fastest growing form of tourism and a number of countries continue to effectively utilize their festivals to attract tourists to their countries.
“This is so because, cultural festivals are basic ingredients that animate and promote tourism. Culturally, festivals enrich cultural experiences and develop support and audiences for culture. They engage with many arts forms, including discovering new ones, styles and genres and help to promote the cultural and creative industries. improves on local infrastructure.”
The tour operators elected new executives to pilot the affairs of the body. They are: “President – Nkereuwem Onung (Remlords Tours); Vice President -, Muyiwa Salami ( Dvine Tour Brokers); General Secretary, Ime Udo (Leadway Tours); Treasurer , Bolaji Mustapha (Get Centre). Ex- officio members are Ikechi Uko (Akwaaba/ATQ Tours); Fatima Garbati(Speed Tours), Abiodun Sanni (Tourways International); Chinyere Umuasiegbu (Globallinks Travels) and Ladi Jemi – Alade (Jemi Alade Tours).
The ancient city of Ile Ife will welcome hundreds of dignitaries today as it becomes a tourism zone.
The event is holding today at the Palace Ground, Enuwa Square, Ile-Ife.
The programme lined up for the official declaration of Ile Ife as a tourism zone started yesterday with a play titled Odigbose (An African account of Slave Trade).
In the year 2000, a group of tourism enthusiasts under the aegis of the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) took a “faith visit” to Calabar, the Cross River State capital. They were led by the then President of NATOP, Mrs. Fatimah Garbati. The idea was to look at tourism prospects in Cross River State and possibly advise the government of the state, which had shown enthusiasm, to go the way of tourism, how to go about.
It was a visit that changed the fortune of tourism in Nigeria and the process midwifed what has become Nigeria’s first tourism destination. It was from the meeting of NATOP operators and the then first lady of Cross River, Mrs. Onari Duke, that the annual “Africa Biggest Street Party”, Calabar Carnival, came to fruition. Other tourism projects equally followed.
On Thursday, February 11, at the banquet hall of the Transcorp Hotel, Calabar, a happy Mrs. Garbati, casting her mind back to the teething stage of Destination Cross River, exclaimed: “ We never knew it was going to be as big as this.” Calabar has become the annual holiday destination for many Nigerian and foreigners and they come to participate in the 16 km-dance train call Carnival Calabar.
The city itself has taken the hue of a tourist destination. From the Marina leisure complex, historical sites like the walls of the colonial prison, the National Museum complex, the Millennium Park, the old Calabar areas like the Duke town, the city has become the tourism capital of Nigeria. Even during the low season, the non-festival period, the streets are kept spotless. The traffic is nothing to be worried about. The food culture is alive kicking.
It was because of this that NATOP returned 16 years after to the city they helped transform. It was for the annual general meeting with the theme, “Nigerian Tourism: The missing link in the diversified economy”.
Prof. Utomi (middle) and some participants at the NATOP AGM
Speaking on the topic, renowned economist, Professor Pat Utomi, went down memory to bemoan how the country’s over reliance on oil has destroyed Nigeria’s economic growth. He insisted that it was a blessing that the global price of oil has fallen as it makes the country think of alternatives.
NATOP President Nkereuwem Onung said holding the association’s AGM in Calabar was like home coming for them.
He said: “ Nigeria is the biggest suppliers of tourists in the continent of Africa. Even though we have more of outbound tourists, that is how it is supposed to be. We have different classes of tour operators, the outbound and in-bound. Like you will agree, even though tourism has suffered a setback in the continent last year, we have a shrink of three per cent in terms of arrivals, as against a four per cent increase of the previous year.
“What we are saying is that despite the setback, NCAA still told us that Nigerians spent about 1.5 billion dollars on airline tickets last year. That makes us a veritable partner in the industry. We have always been at the forefront of tourism, no matter how you look at it. So, the AGM this year is to give our tour operators a new direction.
“That new direction is that we know most of you are marketing other destinations, but we need to also bring people to Nigeria which is a core mandate of the association . Beyond regulating the way tour operators behave in terms of fair practices and all of that, we also need to market Nigeria as a destination.
“We went to look at what happened in Calabar in the year 2000 when NATOP, with the Cross River State government kick-started what is today Destination Cross River. NATOP members were in the forefront of doing that. We also want to make everybody understand that if we did that with Cross River, we can do that with any other state that is willing to partner us.
“Outside partnering Cross River State to give birth to destination that is creating impact, you will agree that NATOP was part of the Seven Wonders of Nigeria. I think that what we did was that we did our best to say look, we have qualified destinations in Nigeria that is worth marketing.
“We have, as a body, participated in the World Travel Market in 2012, the first by private operators other than NTDC staff . In 2012, Otunba Segun Runsewe accorded us that privilege whereby we had tour operators in their number manning the Nigeria stand, asking questions and networking. All these, among others, were what we tried to do.”
Among those present on the occasion was the Director-General of the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mrs. Dayo Keshi. In a paper she presented, she harped on the need to sell Nigerian tourism using culture.
This, she said, informed her presence at the event since it was the tour operators that would package tourists to cultural events in the country. She used the opportunity to unfold the pet project agency.
She said: “The dwindling oil price and its attendant effect on the Nigerian economy has again brought to the fore the imperatives and urgency to revisit and commit ourselves to the diversification of the national economy.
“Today, there is a lot about government’s commitment and determination to develop the solid mineral sector, but very little is being said about the creative industry. Yet, this is an industry with enormous potential to contribute significantly to the diversification of the Nigeria’s economy by creating employment and generating wealth, especially among the rural population.
“This is why our discussion here this is very important as those of us in the industry must help create the awareness and knowledge that is required to place the creative industry on the same pedestal like oil, solid mineral and agriculture.
“This is necessary because we need to change the perception and the way culture is viewed, especially by policymakers and encourage them to see and appreciate culture of which the creative industry is part of an economic prism. Like any other economic sector, it needs support, it needs investment, it needs infrastructure and above all, it needs the conducive environment to grow and develop. That is the crux of my paper today.
“Allow me speak first, of the National Council for Arts and Culture, our mandate, what we do and our plans for the future especially as it concerns tourism. The National Council for Arts and Culture was created in 1975 as a front-line agency of the now Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.
“It has the responsibility for the overall co-ordination, development and promotion of the living arts and culture in Nigeria. As part of its core mandate, NCAC is saddled with the responsibility to foster the development, appreciation and promotion of literary, visual and performing arts and culture. It is also expected to identify, develop and promote the country’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
“Furthermore, NCAC is expected to create skills acquisition Centers, vocational centers and crafts clusters including, packaging and promotion of festivals all towards developing Nigeria’s Creative Industries.
“Over the last forty years, The National Council for Arts and Culture has continued to leverage on Nigeria’s arts and crafts to serve as veritable resource for promoting national unity and integration as well as a catalyst for job and wealth creation. This, it has achieved through its programs and activities especially with its flagship programs, the annual National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) involving all the States of the federation and the FCT.
“The African Arts and Crafts Expo (AFAC) involves other African countries. Last year about fifteen African countries participated in the 4th edition and our aim is to scale up the expo both in participation and in content to attract increased participation from the continent. Our objective is to eventually make it a continental affair that will gain global recognition. If we succeed, l have no doubt that Nigeria will become the Mecca of arts and crafts practitioners with attendant benefit for our artists.”
Indeed l should inform this August gathering that NCAC has a very ambitious plan to introduce more specialized festivals between now and 2017.
These are: The National Durbar Festival; the National Boat Regatta Festivals; the National Masquerade Festival; the Festival of Nigeria Contemporary Arts; the National Folk Songs Festival and traditional textiles and fashion fair.
“The rational for these are obvious or should be clear. First, it is in fulfilment of the core mandate of NCAC, which is the coordination, development and promotion of the living arts and culture of Nigeria. Secondly, festivals are today recognized as one of the fastest growing form of tourism and a number of countries continue to effectively utilize their festivals to attract tourists to their countries.
“This is so because, cultural festivals are basic ingredients that animate and promote tourism. Culturally, festivals enrich cultural experiences and develop support and audiences for culture. They engage with many arts forms, including discovering new ones, styles and genres and help to promote the cultural and creative industries.
“Its social impact includes intangible things that cannot be quantified financially or with economic impact while preserving the heritage and strengthening local values and traditions as well as local community pride. It promotes cultural diversity and community cohesion. Besides, It has potential to create jobs, generate wealth and revenue and promote tourism. It increases knowledge of the country, state or region and possibilities for investment. It drives the construction of new facilities and improves on local infrastructure.”
The tour operators elected new executives to pilot the affairs of the body. They are: “President – Nkereuwem Onung (Remlords Tours); Vice President -, Muyiwa Salami ( Dvine Tour Brokers); General Secretary, Ime Udo (Leadway Tours); Treasurer , Bolaji Mustapha (Get Centre). Ex- officio members are Ikechi Uko (Akwaaba/ATQ Tours); Fatima Garbati(Speed Tours), Abiodun Sanni (Tourways International); Chinyere Umuasiegbu (Globallinks Travels) and Ladi Jemi – Alade (Jemi Alade Tours).
Lufthansa, together with Airbus and the Pratt and Whitney engine manufacturer, celebrates the delivery of the world’s first Airbus A320neo. Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Lufthansa Group, Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Brégier and the President of Pratt & Whitney Robert Leduc celebrated handover and aircraft were presented to the public.
The first A320neo, with the registration D-AINA, has already flown scheduled service since January. The second “neo” is expected to complement the Lufthansa Airbus fleet soon. The first experiences with the A320neo clearly show that the 15 per cent lower fuel consumption mark has not only been achieved but even slightly exceeded. The significantly quieter engines also increase customer comfort on-board and provide relief to residents near airports by reducing noise emissions.
The development and introduction of the quietest and most fuel-efficient aircraft on short and medium distances is further evidence of the successful cooperation in the aviation industry at European level. “Europe has been a leader in this fascinating industry since the early days of aviation,” says Carsten Spohr.
“Lufthansa and Airbus have developed a trusting and productive 40-year partnership. Together we have pushed ahead and brought to market many innovations and contributed to the success of the European aerospace industry. With new and efficient aircraft, such as the A320neo and the A350 XWB, we set new standards for our passengers, while reducing the impact on the environment and, not least of all, on the people living near airports.
“On behalf of everyone at Airbus, I congratulate Lufthansa on being the A320neo launch customer. Together, we’re opening a new chapter in commercial aviation and I am confident that the A320neo will support Lufthansa objective to raise its environmental performance. The A320neo not only cuts emissions at every operational stage but also halves its noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO.
“At Airbus we are have been proud to support Lufthansa’s growth over the past four decades with our partnership now spanning almost the entire Airbus family, from the A320 right up to the A380.
“Pratt & Whitney is proud to build on its long and deep history with Lufthansa and Airbus by together marking a new era in commercial aviation with the delivery of the A320neo equipped with ultra-high bypass ratio Geared Turbofan engines,” Pratt & Whitney President Robert Leduc, said.
“We applaud Lufthansa for being the first to enjoy the many benefits this aircraft and engine technology affords in terms of fuel efficiency and in reducing noise and emissions.”
This afternoon, the A320neo will take off from the Airbus facilities in Hamburg-Finkenwerder as a special flight with flight number LH9917 with guests and media representatives on board and fly with a short stop in Hamburg’s City Airport Fuhlsbüttel towards Frankfurt. The A320neo was fitted with a special logo. “First to fly A320neo – Less noise. Less fuel. Less CO2“ adorns the rear fuselage of the Lufthansa aircraft.
THE conservator of the Cross River State National Park, Mr. Yakubu Mohammed Kolo (Assistant Conservator General), has expressed delight over the plan of the Cross River State government to construct a super-highway from Calabar to Obudu. He said this will aid accessible to the park.
His words: “There are lots of benefits that we are going to derive from the superhighway. Right now where our tourist camp is located, Erokut Tourist Camp, is just about three and half kilometres from the road, therefore, that is an advantage to us in terms of easy accessibility to the camp by both park staff and tourists. It will also be useful in our marketing drive.
“We also believe that the road will assist greatly to open up some of the rural areas as well as mobility of people. To this extent, it is a good project. However, there is need for the state government to adhere strictly to all the environmental issues that bother on the construction of the road, especially, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
“While we crave for development, there is need to balance development and conservation as this can be made to serve complementary roles. We are pleased that the state government understands our position that the road be re-aligned completely outside the Cross River National Park, as well as provide a buffer between the road and the park.”
Kolo also said the park is aligning with the tourism vision of the state government.
He said: “When I arrived here and I realised that though there was a working relationship between the Cross River National Park and the Cross River State Tourism Bureau (CRSTBU) the park did not benefit much from its publicity programmes. The park is a major ecotourism asset in the state. It should be incorporated in the marketing of the state as the country number one tourism destination.
“On our part we are developing some facilities to cater for the leisure needs of the various categories of visitors to the park.
“At the moment, we have constructed 35 chalets, a student hostel, a restaurant, jeep tracks, nature trails, and camping sites at Erokut Tourist Camp. There are plans to construct a 500 seater conference facility in the camp this year as well as a canopy-walk-way in the very near future.
“Again, we are collaborating with CERCOPAN for the release of some species of monkeys to the park, as Erokut Tourist Camp has been chosen for this programme. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed between the National Park Service and CERCOPAN. The experts are already on ground surveying the best location at the camp for the relocation. It is instructive to note that this project will be the first of its kind in West Africa. Furthermore, the release of these monkeys is done under best the IUCN best standards”
However, Kolo said the challenge the park was funds to carry outs its plans and projects and managing relationship with the host community. There was also the challenge of manning the vast park and keeping out loggers and poachers from the park. He said: “We will continue to engage the communities in dialogue as the park holds a great promise to the people. There is need for patience and understanding between the park and the communities. The resources belong to the people. The park management is only a trustee
Managing Director of Glovic Travels and Tours Limited, Mr Okechukwu Nwaogbo, has called for the creation of a Travel and Tourism Ministry to harness the sector’s full potential.
He said the ministry should be created out of the present Information and Culture Ministry where it is buried.
Nwaogbo, a banker, who holds an MBA, said the government needs to do more to develop travel and tourism Industry.
According to him, state and local government tourism boards should develop tourism sites and hand them over to tourism professionals for efficient management.
Nwaogbo, whose firm is at Kapital Klub and Apartments, 3, Gamel Abdul Nasser Close, near World Bank, Asokoro, Abuja, said access to finance by tourism companies is a challenge.
“There is difficulty in accessing funds for expansion. Another challenge is that some services rendered in the travel industry are not paid for, such as checking for fares, while in developed economies one pays $20 for that,” he said.
According to Nwaogbo, services offered by Glovic Travels include flight tickets (local/International) processing, visa processing, holiday and tour packages, hotel reservation, e-passport procurement, student foreign tours/study abroad, among others.
“What stands Glovic Travels and Tours out is that we charge no extra fees other than our commission from airlines. We offer after sale services to ensure that our customers do not miss their travelling schedule.
“We give quick service delivery and specific treatment to specific customers. Our customers are sure to get the best services.
“We operate 24 hours a day. Therefore, customers can reach us any time and get attended to. Our office is strategically located at Asokoro, in a less busy environment and therefore accessible to customers,” Nwaogbo said.
On his vision for Glovic Travels in the next 10 years, he said: “We aim to be a wholesale tour operator, to have offices in the major cities of Nigeria or at least in all state capitals, and to have at least two offices outside Nigeria.
“We also aim to have in employment 200 staffers to support government’s job creation initiative.”
On his expectation from government, Nwaogbo, a former senior bank manager with 23 years experience, said in line with the diversification policy, institutions concerned with regulation and growth of the industry should be commercialised.
“This will generate more revenue, boost rapid growth of the sector and provide employment to the teeming unemployed youths. The government should make the sector more attractive,” he said.
He also called for the development of infrastructure, such as roads, to make tourism sites accessible to tourists.
Nwaogbo urged tour operators to do more to package local tours for foreigners to Nigerian sites just as they package foreign tours.
This, he said, will boost the industry’s growth and lead to more inflow of foreign exchange.
