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Tag: Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC)

  • States must develop tourist sites, says NTDC boss

    To diversify the economy beside oil and increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), states have been urged to develop tourism sites.

    Director General (DG) of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mr Folorunsho Coker, who made the call, said Nigeria must create brands when dealing with our tourism sites to encourage prospective tourism and in return earn revenue from the sector.

    He said that tourism sites and venues of cultural festivals must be equipped with necessary facilities like emergency services, telephone services, parking space, relaxation spots and conveniences to make people feel comfortable enough to visit.

    Mr Coker stated this in Abuja while chatting with journalists in Abuja. He added Nigeria is working on projecting a good image of itself abroad, especially in Germany where it hosted the first Nigerian cultural day in Berlin which featured Nigerian music, food and art etc.

    He said that beside the cultural festival, the country is also working on an Afro-beat festival which will further introduce the country’s art, music, and more to the world.

    “There are thousands of festivals in Nigeria on an annual basis, we relate to quite a few in different geopolitical zones in the country from the Durbar, Ojudioba, Eyo in Lagos, new yam festivals, Argungu fishing festival and a lot more but we cannot do all but one thing that we have found with all the festivals that we have seen is that they have not gone through what makes things commercially successful, what makes Manchester United what it is in sports tourism or Wimbledon, the Olympics, etc., we must create a brand, have a brand identity that goes into merchandising, some if the festivals in some of this tiny African countries, they produce them in an orderly manner people don’t feel threatened because there is no crowd control, people have minimum requirements like clean rest rooms, good and safe food, drinks, emergency health services, you see that in festivals around the world but is it seen in ours?

    “We have written to most of the organisers of these festivals the processes and things to do, how many times are people going to be interested in people doing the same dance and blowing of horns in a dusty field, create a stage, a platform and make it a viewing experience for tourism. And the sites must be maintained. There are opportunities for state government to develop their tourism sites, we don’t have the funding to handle it on our own but the responsibility to work with those that request for partnership with us, we have spoken to Calabar, Kano, Lagos and some of the state governments that have robust festivals. Google Nigeria was launched last week, we have had a close relationship with Google arts and culture, to see both YouTube and Google come to Nigeria and engage our creative industry in such a positive manner that they are helping to promote our indigenous talents. It is such opportunities that become employment, the employment becomes income and out of such incomes that we get taxation back,” he said.

  • Plateau to organize maiden tourism conference

    As part of efforts to re-position Plateau State as a tourism hub, the state government is set to organize its maiden tourism conference.

    The Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Hospitality, Mrs Tamwakat Weli, said this in her goodwill message to mark the 2018 World Tourism Day on Thursday in Jos.

    The commissioner represented by the Director of Tourism in the ministry, Paul Danbaba, said that the conference would chart a roadmap for the socio-economic development of the state.

    She said that the conference, schedule to hold in November, would help draw up a tourism policy for the state which would facilitate the production of a tourism master plan.

    Weli said that the 2018 theme, ‘ Tourism and Digital Transformation ‘ would highlight the need for investment in digital technologies.

    “The digital technology will help improve inclusiveness, local community empowerment and efficient resource management,” she said.

    Earlier in her remarks, Mrs Nanna Yakubu, the Zonal Coordinator, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), said that the theme was apt with the current global technological trend.

    She said that digital technology would enable tourists globally access information on tourist sites, products, investment opportunities and ease travel preparations.

    The coordinator said that social media platforms facilitated by technology would further promote the tourism sector and boost economic activities in the country.

    Read Also: Plateau State University suspends SSANU Chairman, Secretary

    In his goodwill message, Dr John Makwal, the District Head of Batura, in Bokkos Local Government Area, commended the NTDC for the tremendous progress it had recorded in the tourism sector.

    He said that the NTDC had assisted his district to exploit its tourism potential, especially, its annual cultural festival ‘Nahwai’ which is getting national recognition.

    The world tourism day celebrated annually on Sept. 27 is to raise awareness about the contribution of tourism to sustainable development.

    Part of the event was the launch of camp tents by the NTDC, and cultural dances by the various indigenous ethnic groups in Plateau.

    There was also a drama presentation by the tourism group of the National Youth Service Corps members serving in the state.

    NAN

  • Tourism: Delta organises fiesta to woo local, foreign investors

    Delta State Government says it will hold a fiesta to showcase its tourism potentials with a view to attract both local and foreign investors, News men reports.

    The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Chinye Emmanuel, disclosed this when he visited the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation ( NTDC ) and National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism ( NIHOTOUR ) in Abuja on Thursday.

    The Commissioner said the three-day fiesta, which is scheduled to hold between July and August, was expected to attract both local and foreign tourists in the state to tap from its vast potentials.

    According to him, the platform will also provide an avenue for the people to also showcase their rich culture, food, music and fashion during the event.

    “In view of the dwindling oil resources and economic downturn, the need to look inward and think outside the box to find other sources of revenue must be explored.

    “I believe strongly that tourism is that alternative, if properly harnessed, has the capacity to rejuvenate the economy of this nation,” he said.

    He gave assurance that the security of the lives and property of people, irrespective of the nationality were safe in the state.

    “Today, you can walk freely in Delta state, whether you are a black or white man unlike in the past, where you hear about kidnapping.

    “No more crime as such in Delta state, so with that foreigners will be free to come in and move round Delta state freely,’’ he said.

    He said the visit was to garner the support from NTDC and NIHOTOUR to host tourism fairs, expos, training, cultural programmes, develop its historical sites and monuments, as well as its eco-system in other to promote domestic tourism.

    Read Also: Delta CJ acquits man over Murder Charge

    Responding, the Director-General, NTDC, Mr Folunrunso Coker assured the state government of the corporation’s support in harnessing the tourism potentials in the state.

    “Tourism is a business to look at in Delta state and I assure you of our support in making the event successful and promoting tourism potentials in the state and nation at large,” he added.

    Similarly, the Director General, NIHOTOUR, Mrs Chika Balogun, assured the Delta government that the institute would continue to support it, especially in the training of its tourism and hospitality officers.

    “We assure you of our support in training and retraining of your officers in tourism and hospitality industry to meet up with global standard to create a vibrant tourism sector,” she added.

    Balogun, therefore, encouraged the state government to expedite action in developing some of its tourist sites to increase tourism in the state and reduce movement to other countries for holidays and tourism.

    NAN

  • Association kicks against NTDC bill

    Association kicks against NTDC bill

    Mr Lanre Awoseyin, President, Nigeria Hotel Association, on Saturday criticised the Senate’s passage of the bill for an Act to amend the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Act No 81 of 1992.

    Awoseyin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the contents of the bill were against the spirit of the constitution of the country.

    He advised President Muhammadu Buhari not assent to the bill.

    According to him, the bill proposes that accreditation, registration and grading of hotels should all be handled by the NTDC.

    He said that the bill also stated that one per cent of hoteliers’ charges each year would be remitted to the Federal Government.

    Awoseyin described the remittance as “outrageous, obnoxious and abnormal”.

    He said that tourism and hotels are on the Residual list to be managed by the state government and not the Federal Government, but NTDC is a parastatal under the Federal Government.

    Awoseyin said that the declaration was made by the Supreme Court in 2013 when the Federal Government took Lagos State Government to court for opposing its  accreditation exercise.

    “The bill has already been passed by the Senate but we want to draw the Presidency’s attention to it.

    “The constitution states that tourism and hotel management are under the Residual list, to be controlled by the state government and not the federal government.

    “In spite of the private sector’s objection to the bill, the National Assembly still went ahead to pass it.

    “Therefore, we urge the President not to sign it and disregard it.

    “We are writing the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. This will get to them soon,’’ Awoseyin said.

    The Senate had, on Oct 19, passed the “Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2017.

    The bill was sponsored by Sen. Mathew Urhoghide (Edo South)

  • NTDC Bill to revolutionise tourism sector for better performances – DG

    NTDC Bill to revolutionise tourism sector for better performances – DG

    Mr Folorunsho Coker, Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) said the 2017 NTDC Bill (Senate Bill 429) is to revolutionise the country’s tourism for better performances.

    Coker said this while addressing newsmen on the sidelines of the “Public hearing  on NTDC ACT CAP N137 LFB, 2014 (Repeal and Re-enactment ) Bill 2017, 2017 (SB429)” on Thursday in Abuja.

    “The Bill simply seeks to address that old school laws into the new school for us to be able to enjoy the tourism potential we already have as a nation.

    “We are talking about tourism as a whole. There is fashion, food, sport, religious and music tourism. We are also talking about building the right foundation in which everything can grow.

    “The Bill was enacted in 1992; this is 2017, that is 25 years. What was the value of naira then, what was the population of Abuja then, what were the tourism assets we had then, what were the conditions of our cultural and heritage destinations then,” Coker asked.

    The NTDC boss emphasised that the Bill looked at the laws governing tourism from 1992 when it was set up to 2017 and looking beyond.

    He explained that the 8th Senate had look forward and decided that tourism generates a lot of money around the world.

    “The assets of Nigeria in terms of the value chain can generate so much for the country.

    “Senate has now decided to move he bills, the laws that controls tourism from what they were in 1992 to 2017.

    “Tourism generate 7.6 trillion dollars annually in the world. Africa sees about five per cent. We are the most populous and wealthiest country in Africa.

    “I know that out of the five per cent, Nigeria sees N1.8 billion only. We have the population and diversity that create unique art. We have everything in abundance yet Nigeria seems to be poor in tourism,”Coker said.

    NAN reports that the public hearing was chaired by the Senator Matthew Urhoghide, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Culture and tourism.

    The objective  of the hearing was to get reactions on the draft bill from stakeholders in the tourism industry to shape the bill and straighten it before tabling it for consideration.

  • NTDC boss tasks media on positive reportage of tourism sector

    NTDC boss tasks media on positive reportage of tourism sector

    Mr Folorunsho Coker, the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has called on the media to be positive in their reportage of the tourism sector.

    Coker made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    “Let us partner in the redefinition of the country’s tourism sector, in a positive way.

    “The media is the voice and eyes of Nigeria and whatever it says about the country will be the way others will see it.

    “It is high time the press start to report positive things about our tourism sites and opportunities,’’ Coker said.

    According to the NTDC boss, before now, advertisements were through television and radios but now the social media has taken over.

    He noted that, face book alone has over two billion subscribers adding that if a picture is posted; about two billion people would see it.

    Coker maintained that looking at it through the spectrum of tourism; it shows that tourism cannot do without the new media.

    “Media is the oxygen that tourism breeds and it is the media that can grow the industry in positive ways.’’

    He said that in as much as the repositioning and promotion of the tourism lies with the NTDC, there was the need for effective collaboration with the media towards achieving optimum goals.

    Coker therefore called for wider partnership in creating the right impression about the country and patronage of home-made products.

    The D-G said it was time to strengthen the foundation of domestic tourism to encourage inflow of tourists from other countries to boost the revenue of government.

    He said, “NTDC would start effective collaboration with stakeholders in the tourism industry such as the hotels, media, airlines and others in terms of corporate government and regulations.’’

    “We are optimistic that the collaboration would drive domestic consumption of home-made products, create new channels of tourism market, employment among other advantages.

    “The government is trying everything within its capacity to make life better for Nigerians through tourism,’’ the NTDC boss stressed.

  • 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.

     

  • Stakeholders clamour for professional to head NTDC

    Stakeholders clamour for professional to head NTDC

    Tourism stakeholders are agitating for the appointment of thorough breed professional to mount the saddle of leader at the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).

    This followed the sack of the former director general the national tourism agency, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, last Wednesday.

    That brought to an end a tenure many considered set back to tourism development in Nigeria.

    According to them, the need to appoint core professional has become necessary in the light of the critical role the tourism is expected to play in the Nigerian economy in the light of dwindling oil revenue.

    According to them, the era whereby the headship of NTDC is seen as position used to pay political debt or curry political favour has passed.

    “Tourism is a serious business all over the world. It is specialized. Anybody without deep industry knowledge cannot succeed. That is why we have had failures. If the government is serious it sees tourism as a viable sector capable of creating revenue , the appointment of a new head for the  NTDC would send that signal”, a leading tourism practitioner who would rather not want his name mentioned said.

    Among those being touted as possible fit for the headship of the government parastatal are :

    Mr. Ikechi Uko, Mr. Nkereuwen Onung,Mr.  Ini Akpabio, Mrs. Stella Obinwa, Mr.Gabe Onah, Chief Samuel Alabi, Mrs. Uloma Egbuna, Mrs. Victoria Soluade, Otunba Ayo Olumoko and  Mr. Kabir Malan.

    Ikechi Uko comes with huge wealth of experience and insightful knowledge of the sector. He was a member of national Vision 2020 sub-committee, for many has been publishing African Travel Quarterly (ATQ), and organizes the only travel fair in West Africa, the annual Akwaaba African Travel Market that holds annually in Lagos.  He, according to industry source, has cut a niche both the tourism and aviation sector as an informed and very knowledgeable expert. “This is what we need in the sector as this knowledge would help grow the whole gamut of travel and tourism in Nigeria. You know tourism can’t function without aviation in Nigeria,” the source said.

    Others being touted include:Mr. Gabe Onah, Chairman, Carnival Calabar Commission. Sir Gabe Onah is a graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Calabar. In 2001 the then Governor of Cross River State Mr. Donald Duke appointed Gabe as Government spokesman and his Special Assistant on information.  In 2003 he was deployed to the Department of Culture and Tourism and in 2006 he was appointed the Managing Director of the Cross River State Tourism Bureau a position he held until the end of Mr. Duke’s tenure, as Governor of Cross River State. He had since superintended the Rise of Carnival Calabar to Global heights.

    Nkereuwem Onung, President Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), Managing Director, and owner, Remlords Tours and Car Hire Services.

    Jemi Alade is the foremost inbound tour operator and founding member of NATOP . His tour company is regarded as the leading inbound tour operators in Nigeria. Jemi Alade is among the few tour operators that privately initiate oversea marketing trips to sell Nigerian tourism products, most especially festivals to foreign tourists.

    Chief Samuel Alabi, the Board of Trustee chairman of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), is the legal adviser of Eko Hotel and Suites. He was also the former President of FTAN.

    Otunba Ayo Olumoko is the First National Deputy President of FTAN. He is the marketing consultant for Osun Osogbo festival since 2002.

    Stella Obinwa, the Director of Marketing for Africa, Dubai Tourism, has been part of the Nigerian travel industry during her stint with Nigeria’s foremost online booking company, Wakanow.com, She has superintended increase in the market share of Dubai as a tourism destination in the African market.