The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Tourism growth

  • Stakeholder identifies infrastructure as effective tool for tourism growth

    Frontline Nigerian tourism practitioner Alex Ejiogu has identified infrastructure as key to having an effective tourism operation in the country. According to him,  Nigeria’s infrastructure is not in good working condition, which can constitute impediment on the way of tourism growth.

    Ejiogu stated that a regular electricity supply, constant water supply would help to improve tourism in the country, citing countries such as Gambia, South Africa, United States and United Kingdom, among others with good infrastructure.

    “These structures make it easy for tourists and visitors to constantly troop into the countries.”

    Ejiogu, who is Chief Executive Officer, AGE Facility Management, spoke in a chat with The Nation. He said that his company can support tourism as its selling point is knowledge of good facilities and how to make it happen.

    “AGE will encourage tourism. AGE will know that all tourists want a very comfortable environment while they’re on holiday,” he added.

    He urged government to invest in proper infrastructure, in such a way that the amusement spots in Nigeria become more sellable to the visitors.

    “We believe that awareness is the key because our people need to be educated through seminars, formal and informal communication through their community chief, and local leaders on how to tolerate visitors. Some of these visitors if they are tourists they would improve the commerce of the area and that is part of the education they need to have. And traditionally in Nigeria there are some villages that have not seen foreigners before and they will get scared if they start seeing different people coming to their areas,” he said.

    According to Ejiogu, it’s also important to advise foreigners to be people friendly because some areas are not used to receiving large numbers of visitors. On kidnapping and security issues, he noted that it is very important that people are aware of the difference between a friendly stranger and a hostile stranger. ”Security is very important to Nigeria and people must feel secured to tolerate visitors,” he said.

    Ejiogu expects Nigeria to look more closely into key things that attract tourists, reiterating that the nation needs to have a very strong security policy for both international and local. ”Nigeria is not benefiting much from tourism because we have not opened the borders to tourists because of insecurity.

    “I know Nigerians generally do not go on holiday but when we create this tourism concept people will start seeing why they can move from one neighbourhood to another,” he said.

  • Coker calls for collaborative statistics for tourism growth

    Coker calls for collaborative statistics for tourism growth

    Director-General Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mr. Folorunsho Coker has called for working collaborations between data collection organisationsto crystalise Nigeria’s tourism data overview.

    Coker, who spoke at an interaction with tourism and travel writers in Lagos at the weekend,stated that there are data banks from technologies used by banks, telecoms companies and airlines that could be used to crystallise the overview of tourism data. He said such collaborations would be by alliance and in our common interest, rather than by enforcement. This, he said, will get ‘us where we want to be. Big data is the new oracle. We need to speak to it to maximize benefits.’

    The NTDC boss who described statistics as overview that allows correction of strategies and policies, commended the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for its commitment to using the Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA) framework to ensure a more robust and realistic aggregation of tourism statistics in Nigeria.

    He noted that the symbiotic relationship between government agencies is for the benefit of Nigeria adding that, ‘this is the first time statistic will capture tourism and its relevance to GDP.’

    “The decision of NBS to use the TSA framework to ensure a more robust and realistic aggregation of tourism statistics in Nigeria is ground breaking. It is the beginning of what GSM did to analogue for tourism. The DG at NBS is a timely judge of the National data requirements and is on the crest of pronouncements that reinforce our statements that the transportation, hospitality and entertainment in tourism has been big business and need to be identified and separated,” he added.

    Coker emphasized the need for stakeholders in the Nigerian tourism value chain to synergize and harness the strength of domestic tourism to realise the maximum potentials of the money-spinning industry in the Nigeria economy, thereby improving the contributions of the sector to Nigeria’s GDP.

    Earlier at the session, Statistician-General of the Federation and CEO of NBS, Dr. Yemi Kale, assured Nigerians of the commitment of the bureau to using the TSA framework to ensure a more robust and realistic aggregation of tourism statistics in Nigeria.

    Recommended by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the TSA framework, adopted in 2015 by the NBS, links all tourism and travel statistics in Nigeria with the national accounts framework before national Gross Domestic Product, GDP, is calculated.

     

  • Cultural heritage: Panacea for Nigeria’s tourism growth

    Nigeria is endowed with a rich cultural heritage, which if properly harnessed, could translate into rewarding and dependable socio-economic gains. However, such gains may not be actualised without a properly coordinated inter-sectoral collaboration, most especially from the private sector, and a coordinated concentration from the central administration.
    Investing in tourism development is a necessity that arises from Nigeria’s over dependence on crude oil exportation, which has over the years conditioned its short falls into indices of corruption, poverty, squander and other related economic and social ills.
    Tourism and promotion of national cultural heritage, therefore, present as ready alternatives to the oil dependent economy. The duo stand the chance to put Nigeria on the global map of rapid socio-economic growth and development, while enabling it achieve its vision as one of the future’s largest economies. This could be fulfilled through the bigger scope of the present administration’s working agenda, which is beginning to unfold.
    Oftentimes, projected earnings from tourism tend to be given more publicity and concentration than the core product, which is the conservation and promotion of National cultural heritage. The latter requires developing and preserving cultural heritage products which possess the capacity to impact positively on our national wealth.
    All over the world, countries that emerged tourism-friendly and top destinations have considered promotion and conservation of their national heritage as an upstream investment into tourism to enable consumers who are ready and prepared, pay high prices to see, study, learn and enjoy indigenous culture, festivals, cuisines, architecture and related by-products different from their own.
    These set of tourists get into a preferred destination and put their resources into the purchase of cultural products like artworks and crafts. They show tremendous interest in how these products are made and how they have become certain marks of national identities for the people that produce them.
    Nigeria has so much to offer in this regard and remains a fallow land to be explored. Products abound as a result of our cultural diversity which is second to none on the continent. It is expected that palaces, galleries, traditional shrines, traditional architecture, cultural products, indigenous herbs and our countless festivals should form the core of our country’s offerings to the world. The areas of demand, on the other hand, should focus on developing service-oriented facilities, such as roads, transportation, hotels, parks and gardens, electricity, health facilities and reliable security and among others, to establish a nexus between tourism and sustained economic development.
    It is high time that our government took a good look at tourism, its products and the capacity it provides to get us unto level grounds. Many countries have treaded this path with tremendous successes recorded. Ours cannot be different. And if this administration pays key attention to the sector, its efforts would not be in vain.

    •Yekeen is with the National Museum, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

  • Peace key to tourism growth, says Aregbesola 

    Peace key to tourism growth, says Aregbesola 

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola has described the peace in Osun State as a stimulant to the development of its tourism.
    He reiterated his administration’s determination to continue to provide the enabling environment for investments to thrive, urging the people to pay their taxes to enable the government to perform its obligations.
    The governor, represented by the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti, spoke at the opening of Aenon Suites in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, at the weekend.
    He described the multi-million naira hotel as a blessing to the state, noting that the hotel management must adopt effective marketing strategies to grow the business because of the competitors in the sector.
    “You must also let the world know your services by using effective media in and outside the state,” he said.
    Former Osun State governor, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, said the reality was that the era of over-dependence on oil was fading and that all hands should be on deck to create other avenues of improving the nation’s economic growth. According to him, one of such diversification efforts is the opening of Aenon Suites, an investment worthy of emulation.
    “This singular effort by the promoters of Aenon Suites will go a long way to improve the socio-economic fortunes of its immediate catchment area and by extension the overall progress of Osun State, through provision of employment opportunities for tens of our young graduates.
    ‘’Osun State is blessed with tourism potential in various forms. What is absent is the full exploitation of these potential to attract the much- needed foreign exchange for our state. The Olumirin Waterfalls, Erin Ijesha, the Osun Grove, Ife Museum, among others, should be given adequate attention by both the state and Federal Government,” he said.
    Senator Adeleke, who was represented by Olumide Lawal, said if Dubai, Brazil and Singapore could survive only on tourism, Nigeria has no excuse not to make the best of its tourism industry.
    “Nigerians are tourism-inclined and fun-seekers, who also love their environment. The government should, therefore, continue to provide the conducive enabling environment, inclusive of tax holidays to attract investors to the sector. Hospitality industry much against the concept in some quarters is not entirely an elitist affair. Hotels are meant to be homes away from homes, depending on the financial capability of individuals,” he added.
    He however identified maintenance culture as one aspect that the management of Aenon Suites should look critically into and provide innovative solutions.
    Oba Abdurasheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, described the new facility as the first among equals in the state capable of being among the best in the country. He said he was proud of the proprietor’s effort at siting the hotel in the state but would have loved it in Iwo.
    Also, Mrs Bola Akintounde described the hotel as second to none in the state, which can beat most hotels in the world.
    Aenon Suites Chairman Ademola Adedapo, an engineer, recalled that the facility started as a dream some years ago when he could not get an ideal hotel to lodge during visit to Osogbo. “I don’t know how many believe in a dream. Definitely, I do. If you believe in a dream and God on your side, it is realisable. What we are celebrating is a function of a dream, because years ago, getting an ideal hotel to lodge is like a rocket science. Having experienced that, and as my state, I decided to put up this facility for everyone from any part of the world to enjoy,” he added.
    The 41-room facility provides everything to make the customer comfortable, including door camera, room safe, hand drier for ladies, electronic scale, seminar hall, gym, tennis and basket ball court, sauna and functional laundry, among others.
    Among the guests at the event were Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, Nojeem Folasayo Iwaloye, Pastor Soji Malomo, Alhaji Fatai Akinade, Prof Oguntola Alamu, Lere Oriolowo, Sefiu Adewunmi, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Mrs Chinelo Amazu and Supo Olagesin.

  • Tourism growth to outpace global economy in 2015

    Tourism growth to outpace global economy in 2015

    Tourism will demonstrate its enduring ability to create jobs and prosperity for the global economy in 2015 with the sector forecast to grow by 3.7 per cent, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

    Every year, WTTC forecasts the economic impact of the tourism sector in 184 countries and 24 regions.

    For 2015, these forecasts show a sector that is again growing strongly, creating jobs and driving growth.

    In 2014, the industry contributed US$7,580 billion in GDP and 277 million jobs to the global economy.

    During 2015, the industry’s contribution to global GDP is forecast to grow by 3.7 per cent and employment by 2.6 per cent.

    This demonstrates the sector’s enduring ability to generate economic growth and create jobs at a faster rate than the global economy which is due to grow by 2.9 per cent in 2015.

    By the end of 2015, the tourism sector will contribute US$7,860 billion, ten per cent of global GDP, once all direct, indirect and induced impacts are taken into account.

    The sector will account for 284 million jobs, 9.5 per cent of total employment, or one in eleven of all jobs on the planet,

    WTTC forecasts that the United States and China will retain their rankings as the two biggest tourism economies in the world, but Germany has overtaken Japan to rank as the third largest travel economy.

    Russia is the only G20 country expected to register a decline in tourism growth in 2015, due to the continuing sanctions being imposed and the devaluation of the rouble.

    South Asia is expected to experience the highest growth in 2015 at 6.9 per cent, while Europe and Latin America are the regions with the lowest forecast growth of 2.4 per cent.

    WTTC President David Scowsill said: “At a time of global economic challenges, travel and tourism continue to grow faster than the global economy, and is an enduring source of job creation and a driver of growth for every region in the world.