The Nation Newspaper

Tag: tourism

  • ‘Govt set to reposition tourism’

    ‘Govt set to reposition tourism’

    THE Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the Federal Government is irrevocably committed to the development of the tourism sector.

    The minister made the statement, while speaking at the Annual General Meeting and conference of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) in Lagos.

    The theme of the conference was “Positioning Tourism Within Nigerian Economic Space”

    He said the government was mustering the right political will and taking a number of result-oriented steps to develop and reposition the sector.

    Mohammed described tourism as “the oil that never dries”, saying the government would harness the potential of the sector to boost the revenue of the country.

    “This government is committed about the development of the tourism sector and we are mustering the political will to reposition the sector.

    “We recognise the potential of tourism to propel the growth of the economy and we will do everything possible to develop this sector and make it a major revenue earner for the country,” he said.

    The minister explained that the government was focusing on the development of domestic tourism, while putting in place the right infrastructure to attract foreign tourism.

    He said domestic tourism was not fully explored in view of its importance to the economy of the country.

    Mohammed added that the government was giving those areas like entertainment, fashion in which the country had comparative advantage over some other countries priority attention in its tourism development agenda.

    Highlighting some of the steps being taken by government to develop the sector, the minister said the Presidential Council on Tourism was being revived.

    He said the resuscitation of the committee would engender the rapid development of the sector though policy directions.

    He said the issuance of tourist visas was being simplified and issuance time reduced to 48 hours to attract foreign tourists.

    He added that a committee to implement the tourism roadmap had been set up and that a task force on creative economy had been put in place.

    He said the government had designed a festival calendar for the country to stimulate internal tourism and attract foreign tourists.

    The minister, however, said the government could not develop tourism alone, calling for the partnership of private sector and other stakeholders to develop the sector.

    A former governor of Cross River State, Dr Liyel Imoke, in a speech at the conference said the state’s success story was proof that tourism could be a big mover of the economy.

    He said with the right policy, vision, infrastructure and attitude, the country could make tourism as its major revenue earner.

    He regretted that the greatest problem to the development of the sector was the misrepresentation of Nigeria by its citizens to the outside world, saying the practice must stop if tourism should grow.

    “The greatest problem facing the development of tourism in the country is what I call ‘Naija Bashing’

    “Nigerians, running Nigeria down, especially some of our people abroad.

    “This is not good for our tourism as foreigners would have wrong perceptions about us. We need to believe in the country for tourism to grow.

    “We need to speak well of the country everywhere we go. It is when we stop writing those negative headlines that the perception will change and people will visit our country,” he said.

    He urged the country to focus more on domestic tourism as a strategy to develop external tourism.

    Imoke  canvassed harmonisation of festivals in the country to stimulate patronage and reduce confusion associated with simultaneous holding of festivals.

    Also speaking,Director-General Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation,Mr Folarin Coker, said the agency was working hard to retain every dollar spent abroad on tourism in the country.

    He said NTDC was engaging the relevant stakeholders to promote domestic tourism and win tourists to the country.

  • Security essential for tourism development, says association

    The National Hotel Association of Nigeria on Thursday identified security as a vital element in the development of the tourism sector.

    The National Secretary of the association, Mr Jijiwon Akpovwovwo, said in Kaduna that security gives tourists the zeal to tour around.

    According to the hotelier, security is critical to the development of a nation, because it creates stability and attracts not only tourists, but investors.

    Akpovwovwo suggested that the provision of adequate security would go a long way in also improving other sectors of the economy.

    “The tourism sector contributes about 10 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and helps in generating employment.

    “Since tourists love visiting sites that are well protected, I urge government at all levels to provide adequate security in all the tourist sites,” he said.

    He, however, commended the present security measures put in place by the Federal Government.

    “I strongly believe that this will go a long way in encouraging investors and further boosting the economy.

    “However, I wish to state that the matter of security should not be left for the government alone, rather, it should be considered as our collective responsibility.

    “We must all work towards achieving a secure and stable nation; we must encourage what will be beneficial to the country,” he said.

    “Countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Mali, China and Israel make a lot of money from tourism

    “Harnessing these potentials will surely help in developing our economy and assist in reducing the recession,” he said.

  • Lagos improves tourism profile with monuments

    Lagos improves tourism profile with monuments

    LAGOS  State government has said it is investing heavily in building man-made monuments in the state to boost the tourism profile of the state and develop spectacles that tourists could visit.

    This was disclosed by the state Acting Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Adebimpe  Akinsola, during the annual ministerial briefing on the activities of the ministry.

    She said: “The ministry has continued to install new and maintain existing historical monuments in the state. Much importance is placed on  the sustenance of the cultural and historical heritage of the people of Lagos State and to attract tourists.”

    According to the her, some of the monuments the state has worked to improve include Tinubu Square, statues of King Ado,  Prince Olofin, Ma’ami and many others.

    Mrs. Akinsola said the Lagos State government had decided that for any hotelier to operate in Lagos State, the hotelier must register.

    She said: “We will monitor all the hotels that have registered. Those of them that have not registered with us, or do not want to register, we will advise them to come to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to register.

    “We shall inspect your establishment and grade you and you continue to do what is expected of you by the law. If you have not done that, the ministry will be after you. We have begun to close down all these illegal establishments.”

    Akinsola said the state government would in addition provide the necessary infrastructure and manpower.

    She said: “We are not going to leave them just like that or in the hands of people that are not experienced. We are working to establish a school. We are still working on it. It is not in the budget, but we are looking at it, perhaps in the next year budget, it will be part of what we will be looking at. That is a tourism university where we will train people in this area that you have mentioned.

    “The Lagos State government under the Ministry of Transport and Waterways Infrastructure has begun channelization of the waterways. This is to enable people travel by water and feel secured. These are some of the facilities that the government is putting in place before we can begin to tell people that we can do this on water.

    “Part of it that we have tested is the boat regatta that we did on April 15 in  four divisions of Lagos State. That programme was not just done. The water was certified that it was safe for people to do boat regatta and display their talents. So, we are working seriously on that.”

    Presenting the scorecard of the ministry in the last one year, Akinsola said the ministry recognized the importance of destination branding, hence the state came up with One Lagos and One Lagos Fiesta which have all been registered to showcase the true spirit of Lagos through different creative expressions, while leveraging on the city’s abundant soft power to reverse the negative conversation often associated with Lagos; reinvigorate tourism across the state by celebrating our unique people, places and heritage and positively promote Lagos as the Destination in Africa.”

    Other activities by the ministry include the Lagos Street Party, the Toronto International Film Festival and other activities.

  • Nigeria to host African tourism ministers next year

    Nigeria to host African tourism ministers next year

    Come next year, Nigeria will host the 61st meeting of African Ministers in charge of tourism, having won the right for same on Wednesday.

    Tagged the UN World Tourism Organisation Commission for Africa (UNWTO CAF), Nigeria won the hosting right by acclamation,  following the presentation of a five-minute video, entitled ‘’Simply Nigeria’’, to delegates at the ongoing 59th edition of the UNWTO CAF meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    A statement from Segun Adeyemi, Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and Culture revealed that “the compelling video, which highlighted Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and tourism destinations, was greeted by a prolonged applause.”

    Chairman of the UNWTO Commission for Africa and Zimbabwean Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr. Walter Nzembi, noted that as a procedure, “when a member state offers its destination for the host of the next CAF, we all put that request to a test.” He then asked, “Do I take the applause of the Minister’s presentation to mean your approval of Nigeria as next destination call?’’

    The question was greeted by a more resounding applause, confirming Nigeria as the host of the 2018 meeting.

    Making a case for Nigeria’s bid, which was launched at the 58th edition of the UNWTO CAF meeting in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, in 2015, the Minister said it presents an opportunity for the country of almost 200 million people ‘’to showcase our rich cultural heritage and to promote Nigeria as a leisure and business destination.”

    He described Nigeria as a ‘’fascinating country’’ which previously hosted the UNWTO CAF meeting in 2003, 2008 and 2012, in addition to hosting the Second World Festival of Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture in 1977.

    Alhaji Mohammed said Nigeria is a country of peaceful and hospitable people, and that the 2018 UNWTO CAF meeting will be a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to developing the tourism sector as an alternative source of revenue.

    Earlier on, he told the delegates that the Nigerian government has defeated the Boko Haram insurgency, noting that occasional attacks on soft targets by the insurgents who are now on the run do not amount to a resurgence of the group.

  • 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

  • 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”.

  • AMAA’ll boost tourism in Lagos, says Ambode

    AMAA’ll boost tourism in Lagos, says Ambode

    The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, last Thursday revealed that his administration has concluded plans to begin a total revamping of the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos in time for the 2017 Africa Movies Academic Awards (AMAA) ceremony holding in the State later in the year.

    Ambode, who spoke when he played host to AMAA officials led by its President, Mrs. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe at the Lagos House, Ikeja, expressed optimism that the plan to upgrade the Theatre to world class standard would serve as a viable venue for the AMAA event when completed.

    “I want to also say that I am very particular about the venue of the AMAA, so we would use everything possible to make sure that the National Arts Theatre is ready. We are in a process and before the month ends, we should have something to start doing within the first week of April to getting the whole place ready,” he said.

    Alluding to the fact that Lagos would turn 50 by May 27, the Governor said that the hosting of the AMAA event in Lagos would add more glamour to the celebration of the State’s Golden Jubilee and showcase its hospitality to the continent and the world at large.

    “This is a very historic moment for us in Lagos. 2017 we are celebrating the existence of Lagos for 50 years. Without your sector, there is no Lagos. So, when we say 50 years, we are talking about 50 years of history,” he said.

    Governor Ambode said the recent interventions of his administration in the creative industry was in line with his belief that it represents a new opportunity for economic development and unleashing the potentials of youths, assuring that he remains fully committed to breaking the barriers weighing down the industry from thriving.

    While officially accepting the hosting rights for AMAA 2017, Governor Ambode said the State would take advantage of the opportunity to boost its tourism mileage beyond Lagos @ 50.

    Earlier, President of AMAA, Mrs. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe commended the Governor for his interest in the creative industry, saying that it has given the sector a major boost in recent time.

    “It’s amazing to have a Governor who is like a family that seems to understand what our needs are. We’ve never had a Governor of Lagos State who has shown so much deep interest in Nollywood,” she said

    She said the 2017 AMAA ceremony, the 13th in the series would feature films from 72 countries with over 23,000 guests from across the African continent vying for various awards.

  • Tenstrings, ‘The Lagosian’ partner to promote tourism in Lagos

    ONE of the leading music schools in Nigeria, the Tenstrings Music Institute and The Lagosian magazine are partnering to  promote and sell Lagos as a tourist destination for music, leisure and business.

    This was made known during the signing of the agreement between the proprietor of the institute, Mr. Emmanuel Akapo and the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine.

    With the synergy between the two organizations, Mr. Akapo became the Chairman of The Lagosian magazine. He said the decision to make a foray into the media was to sell destination Lagos to the world and also promote entertainment.

    He said: “Media is key to whatever sector you belong to. I know the best selling news apart from sports and politics is entertainment. In the world of entertainment, I have had huge experience. I always tell people, if you give me any amount of money for showbiz, it can never go down the drain again. Even if it appears an unwise investment, it can never go bad. I am sure of that.

    “One of the reasons why I am coming into the media is that I am very sure that when it comes to the world of entertainment, we can’t get it wrong. I have paid the price. I have failed severally and learnt on the job.

    “The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, when he was coming in, I was excited about Operation THESE (Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment, Sports and Exhibition). I said this governor was going to support, but it is events and activities that he is pushing. This is not sustainable, it is not generating trade, it is a structure, a system that needs to be created for the whole industry.

    “So, I see this now as a springboard to the  agenda-tourism, hospitality, entertainment and so on-to launder it the right way and then get all stakeholders to come in”.

    Tenstrings, apart from being a music school, has also been generating visitors to the Lagos as school has students coming from different parts of Africa.

    The signing of the agreement  with The Lagosian was done at the marking of  10th  anniversary of the  Tenstrings Music Institute.

    Akapo spoke also on the school and the vision for the future: “To do more of the things that I have been doing because there are chances that we could succeed moving further than where we are coming from. If I start a music school now, I can sell more than I sold last year. This is because I understand the business more. I am evolving.

    “I will be foolish to be doing something totally different .  It is to keep doing the same thing since I have learnt so much on the job. Music is my passion. I discover recently that I am also a businessman. Business is also a talent, trading ideas and creativity.

    “The business of creativity is also something that I am passionate about. One of the reasons that we have done this little that we have done over the years is that I have been able to take a role in the business I am doing which is to manage. I don’t struggle to be in the limelight with the artists.

    Speaking also on the partnership, the Editor-in-Chief of The Lagosian ,said: “We will be talking tourism and entertainment because of this marriage. We said from Lagos to the world, that is the mantra of The Lagosian.”

  • Tourism can replace oil as major foreign exchange earner, says Sani

    The senator representing Kaduna Central Shehu Sani has advised the Federal Government to develop the tourism sector in its efforts to diversify the economy.

    He said since the earnings from oil had reduced, the growth of tourism deserves better attention as a viable alternative for foreign exchange earnings.

    Sani spoke at the weekend when he visited the slave port in Badagry, Lagos State.

    He said: “From what I have seen in Badagry, if we are able to develop the relics of slavery and other historical sites in this town, Nigeria will be competing with other countries that get most of their foreign exchange earnings from tourism.

    “The Federal Government should fund this project to earn more foreign exchange and attract more visitors coming to Nigeria. It is beyond Lagos State. The people of Badagry deserve the Federal Government’s support in keeping the relics of slavery.”

    He hailed them for being able to preserve the relics and history of slavery.

    He said: “As a senator, I am working on a Bill that is called “Historic Sites Protection and Preservation Bill”. It is a bill that is aimed at drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the need to protect and preserve historic places that have formed part of Nigeria’s memory and history. I am working on this bill and it is about to be read the second time in the National Assembly.

    “My visit to the slave port here (Badagry) is in that very process. And since I have gone round, I have seen a number of things. I have seen treasures of our history, I have seen treasure of our memory, I have seen well-preserved artefacts, documents and facts that form the component of where we came from and where we are today.”

  • Yes to tourism

    •But it is only an end product: after support infrastructure, security, branding and adequate marketing

    The House of Representatives and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, have had an interesting exchange on tourism. They both proffered excellent insights.

    During the minister’s budget debate session, Ogbeide Ihama, the House committee chair on culture and tourism, had asked the Federal Government to make culture and tourism a key plank of its strategy to diversify the economy.

    That was a call well made, for cultural and nature tourisms are an area Nigeria has tremendous comparative advantages.

    But the minister himself was no less spot on. Nigeria’s tourism assets, in natural sites, rich culture and skilled art-and-craft artisans, cannot be accessed without key support infrastructure like roads and general security.

    “Nigeria ranks high in terms of natural endowments”, admitted the minister, “but where is the infrastructure to explore these endowments? The roads are impassable,” Alhaji Mohammed lamented. ”We have not invested in infrastructure over the years. No tourism can thrive where there is no security and infrastructure.”

    Excellent diagnosis. But if the solution to a problem begins with its correct identification, then the House-minister exchange has been very enriching.

    Indeed, tourism is not unlike raw gold. But between that mineral and its sparkling end-product are the “mine” of access infrastructure, general security, proper branding and adequate marketing. Without these rigorous and strenuous processes, Nigerian tourism would remain the potentials it had been over the years.

    Access infrastructure is basically access roads, both smooth network of national expressways and support roads, as well as link-roads to these tourism sites, and into Nigerian cities, towns and villages, which boast cultural extravaganza, which foreign tourists could consume all year round

    A lot of work is on, latterly, on federal expressways all over the country. That is good news and a crucial first step. But the momentum must be sustained, and other feeder roads taken care of, not to talk of support infrastructure for the tourism sites themselves.

    Another key component is perceived security, particularly this time when kidnapping is becoming an epidemic in some parts of the country, and ethnic tension and killings in others. To attract tourists, security must be scaled up, so that there is renewed confidence that visitors are safe, wherever they may wish to go in Nigeria.

    Still, even the best of tourism countries worldwide are seldom 100 per cent safe. Even these countries suffer occasional attacks on some tourist resorts, or even routine reports of crimes like robberies and car-jacking, as are the situations in Kenya and South Africa. Yet, the tourism markets in these countries have remained vibrant.

    What has made the difference, in these two countries, would appear correct and vigorous branding. Building on a rich track record, these countries focus attention on the rich treasures that await tourists, and less on any dangers. But even with the routine crimes, the projection of an efficient and effective local police system reassures any visitor.

    For Nigerian tourism, then, the twin task is putting in place an efficient, effective and tourist-sensitive and friendly police; and effectively projecting it to the global tourism market. Difficult twin-tasks. But they can be done, with focus and determination, particularly since tourism-created jobs and services could help drain the swamp of vice, that drives jobless youths to crime.

    Then, the imperative of marketing Nigerian tourism fare to the global market. Nigeria has a huge diaspora population. Many of their friends, across the races, would be curious about the Nigerian way of life. Smart tourism pitching could satisfy these curiosities; and reward Nigeria with a gale of hard currencies.

    This then, is the hard, narrow and windy way that leads to tourism salvation. Both the House and the federal executive, with the states working in collaboration, should brace themselves for the hard travel!