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Tag: tourism

  • Ebola: Counting losses in tourism industry

    Ebola: Counting losses in tourism industry

    The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) may have been stamped out of the country, but it’s ripple effects are taking a huge toll on the businesses related to tourism and hospitality. OKORIE UGURU reports.

    There was an air of euphoria and sighs of relief when the World Health Organisation (WHO) certified Nigeria Ebola Virous Disease (EVD) free last September. This was after the mandatory 21-day waiting period to see if the disease, which was imported into the country from Liberia, would resurface.

    While Nigeria battled the disease from July through August and September, the industry most hit, negatively, by the Ebola outbreak, was the tourism and hospitality industry. Thousands of foreign tourists, mostly on business, left the country. They left behind thousands of empty bed spaces. Hotels also had cancellations in their event centres of programmes booked months earlier. Occupancy rate for hotels in Lagos, which hitherto had hovered between 75 to 90 per cent, for example, nosedived to about 15 per cent.  Some even went lower than that.  So, the announcement by WHO was like a kiss of life for the industry.

    The tourism industry was not spared. Many tourism programme had to be either cancelled or postponed. The annual  Akwaaba International Tourism Fair held in Lagos last month  was almost cancelled but for the doggedness of its organisers. Initially, about 20 countries were billed to attend the fair, but at the end of the day, only Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and Ethiopia participated. The organiser of the fair, Mr. Ikechi Uko, said at the peak of the crisis when countries started canceling their participations, he ended up being on admission at the hospital, having expended so much fund into the project. He said it was a miracle that the event survived the crisis. But he had to reduce the size of the fairground due to the cancellations.

     

    Post Ebola business environment

     

    Ordinarily, the clean bill of health given by the WHO should have signaled the return to business normalcy. But many expatriate investors and businessmen, who left the country in a hurry, are not in keen about returning. They are mindful of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea that are still battling with the disease. They constitute the bulk of business for most branded hotels and top local hospitality outfits in the country. That is why top brands in the industry are passing through difficult times. Considering the fact that most costs in running a hotel are fixed with or without guests, the hotels are incurring enormous cost to keep their hotels open. The fear is that if the situation did not normalise in the next couple of months, many hotels will close down pushing thousands of people into the labour market. The grim reality is that if the situation does not improve, many hotel workers would be thrown into the labour market.

     

    Long-term effect of the Ebola   

    crisis on hospitality industry

     

    Since 2008, Nigeria has seen a steady influx of top hospitality brands into the country.

    Before then, the only top international hospitality brands were Starwood Hospitality Group’s Sheraton and Le Meridian and Hilton (which later pulled out) and then the Protea group of hotels from South Africa.

    However, between 2008 and now, the industry has witnessed an explosion in  international hospitality  brands making in-road into the country. They include Four-Point by Sheraton; Southern Sun; African Sun; Radisson Blue; Marriot; Golden Tulip; Ibis; Luxury Collections; Swiss group and many others.  It is no secret that the growth in the hospitality industry was helped by the Arab Spring. If the Ebola crisis is not tackled, all these gains may be lost.

    The Managing Director of Swiss Hotel group, West Africa, Dr. Wasiu Babalola, explained the co-relation: “Let’s look at Arab uprising as an example. Leaders of about two or three countries were removed because of the Arab Spring, but are they steady? If you look at it, most investors moved their business because they thought it will be a short thing, it became long and we don’t know when it is going to stop.

    “As business investors, they need to make money, so they moved practically all their events out of North Africa to sub-Sahara, especially West Africa. Those guys are here and they are comfortable, even when the crisis was over, they did not go back. When you look at a research that was done this year, as at three years ago, about three countries in North Africa (Egypt, Morocco, and Libya) had about 50 per cent of hotel development in Africa, and then Nigeria was ranked fourth in hotel development. But as at 2014, Nigeria is accounting for about 48 per cent of developments in Africa, that is based on signed contracts and so on while Egypt is far below. It means some of the investments that were planned for Egypt two years ago had to be moved away, and the same thing with this Ebola crisis. If we don’t try to build the confidence in the populace, investors and foreign travelers, they will look elsewhere.”

    The attraction to Nigeria is the huge population, the steady economic growth, the oil money and to, a certain extent, Nigeria has become very popular for international conference tourism. Unfortunately, all these are evaporating into thin air as the Nigerian hospitality industry battles various problems. For them, the issue of safety has made profitability to pale into insignificance.

    The Managing Director of HSSL Global, Nigeria’s first indigenous hospitality management group, Ayo Olowoporoku, put it thus: “This year has been challenging as a result of the Ebola outbreak. It has adversely affected business. Most of the people that use hotels come from other countries.

    “They come by air, and if airlines are affected,  it affects the industry. Ebola has affected travel generally.  I, personally, have lost businesses, cancellations of reservations and so on, because companies cannot risk convening people in a venue. They don’t want to risk it. Even transient customers are refusing to come to hotels or places where they know they will meet with a lot of people. Everybody is running away. Hotels depend on social lives and ability of the people. We have been adversely affected.”

    Babalola  added his voice: “The Ebola crisis has actually affected the entire hospitality, tourism and leisure industry, not only in Nigeria, but all over West Africa. We are only fortunate that ours has been wiped out; we have a government that is pro-active to some extent.

    “Ebola has affected the hospitality business directly, and possibly the tourism and leisure industry indirectly. Presently, most hotels are experiencing the worse case, even worse than the world recession. It has been recorded that even during global recession, when all other economies were reducing prices, Nigerian hotels were increasing prices. This is a kind of global epidemic that has actually affected hotel industry seriously.  We are currently experiencing occupancy at the lowest ebb; we, the investors, are having terrible cash flow situations.

    “There is no confidence anymore in the industry as it is. This has shown to me that customers value their safety. Safety is now a core, and that is the message they have passed across that Ebola is a safety issue and customers are particular about their safety.” When asked if the local market has also been affected, he said: “I can say it is both ends. When Ebola was still animal to man transmission, it was still a bit manageable, but when it became human to human…the hospitality business is about human beings, which is giving service to human beings, it became a very serious problem for the industry.

    “You can see how parents revolted when government announced that schools should resume, they said no, we won’t. We know also people that took their children out of the country, saying whenever they get back, the children will continue with their schooling. Hospitality is human driven, not technology driven, you have to make contacts with human beings, because of that most of the foreign clientele had to leave. Even the local market, people said this is not the right time to organise any event, any retreat or anything.

    “So, the corporate client that would have even sustained our economy is not even coming out because people would say Ebola is everywhere, we don’t even know who is carrying Ebola. It is not written on anybody’s face. That is why it is everywhere, the local market retreated into its shell and the international travelers are not looking at our way. That is where the government needs to start looking at the post Ebola effect which will be tougher than the Ebola crisis itself.”

    So, how has the industry been coping with the dwindling revenue and cash flow as a result of Ebola?  Most top hospitality outfits in the country are finding it difficult  paying salaries of their workers. As at middle of last month, most of the hotels have not paid their workers September salaries. One of the leading non-branded hotels in Lagos based in Victoria Island has laid off all its auxiliary staff. There are threats that some workers would be laid off if the problem continues.

    “It is so bad that most operators are making less than one-third of what they used to make, meanwhile the cost of doing business is still the same. We still need to run diesel and so on. At a point, the investor would need to make decision: which cost do I have control over? The first thing that comes to mind would be staff. The second thing that comes to mind is that let’s turn it to bread and breakfast hotel.

    “We start sacking all the food and beverages department. As investors, there are options. If the government would allow us to get to that option, they are going to get a long-term problem on their hands, because they will start fretting where do we get jobs. It does not only affect the people we sack. Our third party suppliers will sack some people because the capacity for demand is coming down.”

    Some of them complained about the issue of cash flow as a result of this low occupancy rate, they are asking for incentives like tax waivers for them to recoup some of the money they are losing.

    However, Lagos State Commisoner for Tourism and Inter-governmental Relations, Mr. Disun Holloway said no: “there are no plans to that effect”. Adding: “We’ve not been approached with such request and we meet with them regularly. There are other things that will happen. The state government cannot, any time something happens in an industry, begins tax breaks and things like that. We quite appreciate what has happened in the industry and we will do our best to ensure that the period that they are going through does not turn into a period of massive unemployment. We are glad that, as at now, the hotel occupancy rate has begun to go up. So, we hope it will continue.”

     

    Wooing back tourists

     

    The hotels say they have not been sitting and waiting for their guests to return, rather they have been pro-active in wooing them back; telling them that Ebola has been wiped out of Nigeria. According to the Deputy General Manager of Southern Sun, Ikoyi, Mr. Cliff Shiridzinody, efforts to bring back guests would take at least, three months before yeilding results.

    “You know it is not going to take just the next day for people to come. The damage was done. We are talking of health issues here, it will take three or four months for people to come. But what we have done is that we have taken all the cuts from the newspapers and e-mail them to the travel agents outside Nigeria and say this is what is happening in Nigeria. So, we are sending the cuts from all the newspapers to corporate organisations and travel agents in South Africa, because most of our businesses come from there, so that they can know the situation. But it is not uhuru yet, it is not going to be tomorrow, no, it will take long for the industry to stabilise again.

    “When the news of WHO clearance came out, our head office in Dubai started sending out information to places where we source our market that Nigeria is Ebola free so that they can bring back the clients that we lost,” Shiridzinody said.

    To get the industry back to its feet, according to Babalola, there is need for confidence building.  “Building confidence to me is in three ways: we have the short, medium and long term. The short term has to be done by the government, which is two things. One needs to work with the private sector and internationally recognised institutes, such as the Institute of Hospitality, to do health and safety certification of our hospitality units.

    “It is all about confirming to the world that our hotels are free, they are doing personal hygiene, food hygiene, and a certificate being displayed so that everybody will know that they have done this thing. The government needs also to go back to the media and make noise on a daily basis that Nigeria is Ebola free.

    “I went to Google to get the names of Ebola country, Nigeria’s name was among, they did not even say Sierra Leone and other places, because that is not the market for the press. Nigeria is the most populous black nation on earth, so it goes beyond October 1st announcement by the President thanking everybody. No, the president, the governors and everybody needs to, on daily basis, tell the whole world that they are  free to do their business in Nigeria without fear of any contagious disease, even beyond Ebola.

    “We should also start talking about other things beyond Ebola. It is building confidence in the consumers and investors so that they don’t find a way to move their fund because if investors don’t get their returns, everybody has an exit strategy, they will move. So, for us to guard against it, the government needs to do that. Now, once you are making noise that Nigeria is Ebola free, talk to both the print and electronic media. Put it on the social media and foreign magazines; let’s do a campaign that we are Ebola free nation. This is a campaign the government can undertake for just three months and we will achieve result.  While government is doing that, it will generate some level of demands. The local demands will get excited to sustain the industry pending when the big funding will come. You would remember that WAEC does their marking in Lagos. West African Surgeons also use hotels in Lagos.

    “All these West African examination bodies come to Nigeria for their programmes. Since Ebola, all of them have moved out. So, if we don’t quickly do this, they may get comfortable wherever they are and may not come back. So, we need to quickly do that. That is in the short term.”

    For the medium term solution, the industry according to Babalola, needs to look at the investors, who are crying for help, but not crying aloud because they still hope that normalcy would return. “But I pray it doesn’t get to the next two to three months. Probably the signal the government will see would be retrenchment of workers,” he said. The industry, he said, has been greatly affected by the stigma from the Ebola Virus Disease as some hotels that have suffered low patronage have begun to lay off some of their workers.

    “Presently in the industry, we know of some of our colleagues that have laid off their temporary staff. They are keeping minimal staff; the basic workers, because patronage had dropped ridiculously in Lagos particularly, to between 20 to 30 per cent. Even some unbranded hotels are experiencing less than 10 per cent drop in patronage. It is so bad that most operators are making less than one-third of what they used to make, meanwhile the cost of doing business is still the same,” he said.

     

  • ‘Tourism can earn more revenue than oil’

    ‘Tourism can earn more revenue than oil’

    Amid dwindling economic fortunes of the Federal Government, experts in the hospitality industry, under the aegis of Association of Hotel Owners in Kwara State, have said the tourism sector has the potential of generating more money to government’s coffers than crude oil, if properly harnessed.

    Therefore, the association canvassed a synergy between the state and the federal governments in the development of tourist sites in various parts of the country.

    The chairman of Kwara State chapter of the association, Chief Michael Oyeyipo, disclosed this to reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, while briefing them on the activities lined up by the association to mark this year’s World Tourism Day.

    “If you go to Obudu Cattle Resort, you will be surprised at what you find there. International tourists come there as a matter of cause; sport enthusiasts from all over the world come there. I believe if the Federal Government allocates enough funds for the development of the sector, huge revenue will accrue to its coffers.

    “The federal and state governments can jointly establish such a place all over the country and develop them. Dubai in the United Arabs Emirate was developed within a short time and it has become such a tourist attraction all over the world. Such feat can be achieved in Nigeria,” he said.

    He also challenged the National Assembly to advise state governments to pay more attention to tourism development, adding that state governments should make tourism one of their policy thrusts.

    He further said tourism had contributed immensely to enhanced internally-generated revenue (IGR) of many state governments. He cited Cross River’s Obudu Cattle Ranch, Bauchi’s Yankari Games Reserve and its Warm Springs, Ekiti’s Ikogosi Warm Springs and Holiday Resort and Yobe’s Argungu Fishing Festival as some of the tourists’ sites that yield huge revenues for the respective states.

    The hotelier, who said tourist sites abound in Kwara State, which he said include Esie Stone Image Museum, Patigi Regatta, Awon Festival, Owu Waterfall and Owa Kajola Warm Spring. He added that genuine effort towards developing them would boost the revenue profile of the state.

    Chief Oyeyipo, who identified inadequate infrastructural facilities such as access roads, provision of potable water and inadequate electricity supply as some of the challenges the industry is experiencing in Kwara State, called on government to address them urgently to help business growth.

    “To worsen the already very difficult operating conditions faced by the hospitality industry, the rates and tax regime in the state have not been friendly. More often than not, multiplicity of taxes has almost crippled the industry,” he said.

    He maintained that operators in the industry remained undaunted in carrying out their businesses despite the challenges, adding that they are determined to meet the aspiration of government which regards them as the engine of growth for the state’s socio-economic development.

  •  ‘How to boost Taraba’s tourism sector’

     ‘How to boost Taraba’s tourism sector’

    Dr. Yakubu Tor-Agbidye is Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism in Taraba State. In this interview with FANEN IHYONGO, he reveals that Taraba has much tourism potential that could boost its economy and that of the country. He advises that infrastructure be put in place for the industry to flourish, among other issues. Excerpts: 

    Taraba has witnessed some quiet periods in tourism activities in recent times. What could be responsible for the situation?

    It is not quite true that tourism activities in Taraba State have been dull. There are circumstances that have forced activities in the culture and tourism sector to be seemingly quiet.

    We have had series of disturbances in the state. We have been promoting culture and tourism in Taraba for quite a long time, by organising festivals in which we invite people across the region to participate.

    Last year, we celebrated the World Cultural Day in Gembu, Sardauna Local Government Area. We were planning very seriously to also launch the Nwonyo Fishing Festival when the ethno-religious crisis in Southern Taraba resurfaced. The crisis seems to have caused tourism activities not to be vibrant.

    You cannot promote tourism when there is insecurity in the area. So, the violence in the state has slowed down tourism activities, but it is just a matter of time; it is temporary. When the crisis is over, tourism activities will resume in full swing. I have a lot of plans on ground, which I believe shall take the state to an enviable pedestal when peace returns.

    Appraising what Taraba has invested so far in the culture and tourism sector, will you confidently say it has reaped the benefits of its investments?

    When I assumed duty as Adviser on Culture and Tourism three years ago, I noticed that the state boasted of  much tourist attractions that could be utilised to promote tourism nationally and internationally. I realised that we have a lot of potential (I mean just potential) but the infrastructure was  not developed.

    To fix the infrastructure, we need huge sums of money, which the state does not have at the moment. So, the potential are there, but untapped. I have divided the state into three zones –A, B and C–in terms of tourism. My desire is to ensure that, at least, we develop an attractive cultural/tourist centre in each of the zones. But looking at the amount of resources needed to build these infrastructure to a point of attracting national and international tourism, it wouldn’t be that easy because we don’t have that kind of resources.

    We can just package our tourism very well and sell it. We cannot ask tourists to come and build the infrastructure for us. The state has to fix the infrastructure to attract tourists to invest and promote our tourism.

    So, our basic problem is the huge resources required to develop the infrastructure before we can think of marketing our tourism industry to the outside world.

    Will the state reap from tourism if the huge sums of money are available to fix the infrastructure?

    Recall what Governor Suntai said the other day; that the Nwonyo Fishing Festival which was being organised annually, for instance, is a waste of resources because it has not generated any revenue to Taraba State.

    There are certain fundamental principles that should be understood in developing the tourism industry. When I say the state has tourism potential, it doesn’t mean it is all about organising festivals and inviting people to come and feast on the jamborees.

    Let us consider the Central Taraba for example; the Mambilla Plateau in Gembu. There are a lot of sceneries that are good for visitors to come and watch. In Serti, there is the Gashaka National Gumti Park, with a lot of wild animals. One can develop the area for international tourism to take place.

    So, what I mean is that we need to develop our tourism industry very well. When we develop our tourism industry, then we can sell what is developed to the international community to come in with their money. That is the only time the state can reap or benefit from the money sunk in tourism. Not just organising festivals, but developing the infrastructure and selling what is developed to the international community, telling them what we have in Taraba that they participate in.

    There are different types of tourism that I want to talk about here: there is a tourism that is for leisure, where people could come, relax, watch things and enjoy themselves. We have medicinal tourism, where people can come for treatment and other things.

    In this case, we have a lot of medicinal products in Gembu, but we need to identify and put them there so that if anyone comes here, he will see what we have. We have a lot of wild animals that are not readily available elsewhere. We can put them in zoos for people to come and watch. Then we can build hotels around such areas so that when people come, they can go there and lodge in.

    When the infrastructure is developed and we sell our tourism to the international community, people coming in can patronise us, by spending their money–be it dollar, naira, euro or other currencies. That is when the state would reap the benefits, but not when the state takes huge sums of money and organises events. Many countries now rely on their tourism industries. Their states do not spend money. They have developed their infrastructure and they generate their revenue when foreigners visit their countries to spend their dollars.

    What particular type of tourism do you think Taraba State should develop, in terms of priority?

    As I said, we have leisure tourism, medicinal, historical; religious and other forms of  tourism. We can develop all of them.

    Which of them do you think the state should start with, considering revenue generation?

    You can start with the leisure, because people travel out for leisure. Medicinal tourism is for those who are particularly sick. So, we can start with the leisure because tourists like to relax when they seek break from the stress of day-to-day life.

    For example, if you go to Obudu Cattle Ranch, you are going there to relax, see fascinating scenery, enjoy the pleasant atmosphere and become happily refreshed. So, leisure tourism should be a starting point.

     

     

     

    QUOTE

     

     

    We need to develop our tourism industry very well. When we develop our tourism industry, then we can sell what is developed to the international community to come in with their money. That is the only time the state can reap or benefit from the money sunk in tourism. Not just organising festivals, but developing the infrastructure and selling what is developed to the international community

  • Dana Air, Akwa Ibom partner

    Dana Air, Akwa Ibom partner

    Dana Air has been designated as the  partner airline of the first Akwa Ibom State Tourism Summit, which holds on September 17 and 18 at the Ibom e-library.

    The Akwa Ibom Tourism Summit, which is first of its kind seeks to develop historic sites within the state as well as showcase the rich cultural and tourism potentials that are located across the state.

    The partnership is a further re-affirmation of Dana Air’s commitment towards an accelerated tourism development.

    Speaking on the potential of the event, the Chief Commercial Officer of Dana Air, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo said: “Accessibility and tourism are synonymous and the designation of Dana as the official airline partner of the maiden edition of the summit will further accelerate pace of growth so far recorded in the state especially the commendable global recognition that some historic sites and monuments have achieved under the current administration”.

    Mbanuzuo further noted that Akwa Ibom has served as a remarkable symbol of unity and pride and Dana Air will continue to provide reliable and convenient means of transport to guests across its existing route network within Nigeria.

    The Project Organiser, Mr. Joseph Utin, noted that Uyo was ready to host the tourism world and the appointment of Dana Air is sequel to the interest of the airline to genuinely partner with the authorities to grow domestic tourism potential.

  • NTDC boss backs promotion of Nigerian languages

    NTDC boss backs promotion of Nigerian languages

    The Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Dr Sally Mbanefo has urged parents and guardians to ensure that they speak Nigerian languages at every home, saying it is a strong tool for the promotion of culture.

    She observed that most languages, such as Igbo, are indeed, in danger of going extinct unless something drastic is done to preserve it.

    Mbanefo, who spoke at this year’s national New Yam Festival (Iri Ji Ndi Igbo) at Igbo-Uku, Anambra State, urged traditional rulers in the state to intensify efforts at creating enabling environment for domestic tourism to thrive in their communities. She identified tourism as a principal export for 83 per cent of developing countries and the most significant source of foreign exchange after petroleum. She pledged the Federal Government’s commitment to support and strengthen the festival in order to serve as a veritable channel to promote and market Nigeria’s rich culture.

    “The domestic tourism market has a very high revenue and job creation potentials. Tourism industry contribution to the nation’s GDP is valued at approximately 1.3trillion naira with a 2.6 per cent contribution to total employment of 1,636,500 jobs. My plans to further take tourism to greater heights are increase domestic tourism volume by at least 30 per cent and entrench a culture of tourism among Nigerians, continued collaborative and sustainable partnership with the private sector operators to harness tourism resources and make Nigeria destination hub of Africa, and growing the tourism value chain to enhance revenue generation through innovative products/projects like the Green City,”

    She described the Iriji Festival as a time of thanksgiving and praying for good yields, saying: “I passionately appeal to the Igbos to come together as one and give Igbo-Uku new yam festival a global out-look as other festivals such as Sango. It is an event that should be seen and celebrated by every Igbo son and daughter. It is an epitome of the beauty of Igbo culture. The Igbo nation is a people that are blessed with everything that make a great nation. The human and material resources that are found in Igbo land are enough to make Nigeria Africa’s destination hub.”

    Mbanefo was honoured by His Royal Highness Igwe Martins Nwafor Ezeh Idu II of Igbo-Uku with the title of Ona mma Ndi Igbo in appreciation of her contributions to the growth of culture and tourism in the country.

    Igwe Ezeh who lauded the strides of the NTDC boss at promoting domestic tourism and cultural festivals in the country, said:

    “Dr Sally Mbanefo is a blessing to Nigeria, and in particular the Nigerian tourism industry. If men and women of vision and passion for nation building like our daughter, Dr (Mrs) Sally Mbanefo are at the helms of affairs of every sector in Nigeria, the nation will not only express her appellation as the Giant of Africa, but also as the Giant of the whole world. This is because we have the resources, what we only need are men of vision and patriotism to manage the resources for the benefit of all.”

    Conferring the chieftaincy title on Dr Mbanefo, the traditional ruler said: “Mbanefo did not buy this chieftaincy title with money, rather we consider it apt for her, having considered her immense contributions to Nigeria and support for the promotion and development of Igbo culture and tradition. We pray that God almighty will continue to strengthen her and bless her with the wisdom to record a successful tenure in office, thereby propelling the movement of this nation and the Igbo communities to their respective promised land.”

    The Odogwu of Ibusa and Director, Centre for Igbo Studies of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dr Tony Nwaezeigwe, who corroborated the submission of the Igbo-Ukwu monarch on the efforts Dr Mbanefo at promoting Nigeria’s tourism industry, culture and tradition enjoined the NTDC boss to make a policy that will make the Igbos understand and appreciate their culture and tradition. He lamented the increasing decline in the promotion and preservation of the Igbo culture, especially language, which he said, is in danger of going extinct.

    “Foreigners are coming to appreciate what we have, in terms of culture and heritage, hence we should never allow those inestimable virtues to go into extinction. Thus, I plead with our government to make Igbo language and history a must in the academic curricular, thereby protecting our language, culture and tradition,” Dr Nwaezeigwe submitted.

    National Chairman, Mbido Igbo Association, Mazi Okafouzu Ugochukwu appealed to Anambra State government to assist in providing infrastructures in the place, such as tarring of the road leading to the National Yam House; building of a modern pavilion at the arena; provision of a functional bus and security van to the organizers of the festival, among others.

    The corporation supported the five-day festival with a new deep freezer, a Motorcycle and a cow.

  • CEPTAC donates tourism books to varsity

    CEPTAC donates tourism books to varsity

    THE Centre for the Promotion of Peace, Tourism, Art and Culture (CEPTAC) has donated tourism and historical books to the Ignatius Ajupu University of Education  ( formerly Rivers State University of Education), Port Harcourt. Among the books donated to the school were: Memories of the Niger Delta Slave Trade Routes and Towards the Culture of Peace in the Niger Delta.

    In his speech while presenting the books to the vice-chancellor of the school, Professor Rosemond Dienye Green Osahogulu, the president of the CEPTAC, Chief Amachree, said the NGO decided to present the books to the school to avail the youths the opportunity to know more the history and culture of their fatherland and their root, to remind them of the trans-atlantic slave trade era where their ancestors were sold as slaves by the Europeans through Bonny Island, Calabar, Akassa and Badagry ports and to resurrect the reading habit of youths, especially now that Port Hacourt has been designated as the World Book Capital for 2014.

    On the activities of the CEPTAC, Amachree said: “The NGO has produced three books since its inception. He said the NGO organized the first cultural carnival in Abuja; the second River State Cultural carnival tagged RIVCAM’92 in Port Harcourt. In addition, it has also organized on peace and tourism.”

    He called on students to develop their skills for them to contribute to nation-building, especially in the area of tourism, since tourism is the largest employer of labour in the world.

    Amachree used the opportunity to call of different tiers of government and other organizations to introduce holiday packages for their workers as this will help in creating greater awareness on tourism and its importance.

    He congratulated the university’s vice-chancellor for being the first female vice- chancellor in River State.

    In her response, Professor Osahogulu thanked the CEPTAC for the kind gesture. He said that on her assumption of office, students’ reading habit was at a low ebb. She said she organized several academic activities to change the trend. She thanked Chief Amachree for the kind gesture, noting that the books would further enhance the reading culture among students.

    Also speaking on the occasion, Professor Emeritus Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa of the University of Port Harcourt, said the CEPTAC will continue to contribute to the  development of cultural heritage of the Niger Delta.

  • Photo: World Sango festival

    Photo: World Sango festival

    DIRECTOR GENERAL, NIGERIA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, MRS SALLY MBANEFO (L), RECEIVING AN ART WORK FROM ALAFIN OF OYO, OBA LAMIDI ADEYEMI, AT THE OPENING OF WORLD SANGO FESTIVAL IN OYO ON THURSDAY (21/8/14). WITH THEM IS COMMISSIONER FOR CULTURE OYO STATE, PRINCESS ADETUTU ADEYEMI.
    DIRECTOR GENERAL, NIGERIA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, MRS SALLY MBANEFO (L),
    RECEIVING AN ART WORK FROM ALAFIN OF OYO, OBA LAMIDI ADEYEMI, AT THE OPENING OF WORLD
    SANGO FESTIVAL IN OYO ON THURSDAY. WITH THEM IS COMMISSIONER FOR CULTURE OYO
    STATE, PRINCESS ADETUTU ADEYEMI.
  • Rediscovering Bauchi’s tourism potential

    Rediscovering Bauchi’s tourism potential

    Situated in the northeastern part of Nigeria, Bauchi State remains a tourism haven. It boasts warm and hospitable weather and over15 memorable destinations that have earned it “the Pearl of Tourism” tag.

    The state’s natural endowments are raw and beautiful. It is also blessed with spectacular sights which are awe-inspiring beauty.

    The state has a rich historical heritage, such as the ancient Babban Gwani local structure in Kafin Madaki and Ganjuwa local government areas; the first mining Beacon in Nigeria at Tilden Fulani, the Panshanu Stone heaps in Toro Local Government Area, the Geji Rock Paintings in Shira Local Government Area and the Shadawanka Rock Paintings and the famous Tomb of Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, in Bauchi metropolis.

    Home to over six million people, the state hosts about 55 ethnic groups, each with its striking and colourful traditions and festivals.

    Festivals, such as the Kyaro War Dance of the Warji ethnic group, the Afizare Dance (Jarawa people), the Takai Dance popular among Hausa-Fulani, the Ngat-Zal Bajar Dance peculiar to the people of Dass, the Lawurba Dance common with the people of Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro, make Bauchi a melting point for traditional and cultural tourism.

    The most outstanding of the festivals is the Durbar which has been embraced by the people and is a major aspect of the Sallah celebrations in the state. The Durbar is a display of horsemanship by hundreds of horse men adorned in traditional attires, marching to the drumbeats. There are gun salutes and the blaring of trumpets before a crowd of eager spectators, who are ever happy to pay homage to traditional leaders.

    The palaces of the six first-class traditional rulers are a blend of old and modern architecture. The state is also known for its traditional wrestling and boxing contests.

    The state is noted for its art and craft which include beautiful embroidered caps and gowns, fibre craft and calabash carvings. It is also good in metal works, pottery, mat-weaving and leather works. Most importantly, Bauchi is endowed with natural ecosystems in the Lame-Burra Game Reserve that hosts a variety of wildlife.

    These reserves are home to rare species of birds, monkeys and other wild animals. The Lame Burra was proposed as a Game Reserve in 1978 to boost tourism. But several years after, its treasure and natural resources are yet to be exploited.

    Interestingly, what is regarded as Africa’s biggest game reserve, the Yankari Games Reserve, is strategically located in Bauchi State. Yankari is, undoubtedly, the most developed wildlife park in Nigeria. It has a variety of fauna and flora and  attracts visitors from across the globe annually.

    The Yankari Games Reserve, which has become inseparable from the famous and popular natural Wikki Warm Spring, is a large wildlife park in Alkaleri Local Government Area. It covers an area of almost 2,244 square kilometres.

    Its location in the heartland of West African Savannah makes it a unique destination for tourists, holiday-makers and seekers of a few hours of fun watching wildlife in their natural habitat.

    Investigations revealed that the reserve, founded in the 1950s, habours over 69 indigenous wildlife, including baboons, monkeys, warthogs, hippopotamuses, lions, elephants and leopards.

    Others are buffalos, gannet, roan antelopes, bubal, hartebeest and spotted hyenas in addition to African hunting dogs, cheetahs, western kobs, gazelles, water-bucks, grimm’s duckers, oribi and duckers. It’s home to more than 350 species of indigenous birds, 26 species of fish, seven amphibians and 17 species of reptiles. It is the most popular destination for tourists in Nigeria and plays a crucial role in the development and promotion of eco-tourism.

     

    Birth of Yankari Game Reserve

    The history of Yankari Game Reserve dates back to 1934, when the Northern Regional Committee recommended to the Executive Council to set up a pilot game reserve in the Bauchi Emirate. It was the idea of Alhaji Muhammadu Ngeleruma, a minister in the then Northern Nigerian Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

    By 1956, the Northern Regional Government approved the plan for the creation of a ‘’Game Preservation Area and Yankari was readily identified as a region where large numbers of animals existed and could be protected. To this end, Sogame Preservation Area was carved out and constituted as the Bauchi Native Authority Forest Reserve.

    Available records showed that it became a premiere games reserve and was opened to the public in December 1962 under the Northeastern Regional Government. It was later transferred to the Bauchi State Government. A visit to the place reveal an open country and village-like scene. Though there has been no known human settlement in the park, there is, however, evidence of earlier human habitation in the park which includes iron smelting sites and caves.

     

    Tourists’ inflow to the facility

     Records showed that in 2000, over 20,000 tourists from about 100 countries visited the facility, making it the most popular destination in Nigeria. The place became dilapidated which resulted in low patronage.

    The state government added about 300 animals of six species from Namibia to the existing ones. They included giraffe, eland, kudu, impala and zebra which were donated by the Namibian government. They are kept in an eight-square kilometre Sumu Wildlife Park.

    As the world explores the use of eco-tourism as a vehicle for sustainable development, the state government is determined to transform its fortunes by investing about N12 billion in the facility.

    Governor Isa Yuguda said recently that the focus was to make Yankari the most-sought-after tourists’ destination where people will appreciate its hospitality and tourism potential.

    Since 2006, the facility has been rehabilitated and developed to meet international standard.

    The reserve’s museum serves as a conservation and educational centre, displaying hunting gears and traps used by poachers. But to fast-track the transformation of the facility into money-spinning eco-tourism centre, the government is upgrading its infrastructure which includes Wikki Warm Spring that pumps 21,000 litres of water.

    Besides the above recreational facilities, there are historical human adventures at the park, especially inside the Marshall Caves. Our correspondent gathered that Mallam Ahmadu Makama, a retired Chief Park Ranger, first discovered these caves in the shallow forest of Yankari in sandstone escarpments over 52 years ago. They are located at Borkono gorge,  seven kilometres northeast of Wikki Camp.

    The caves are home to 59 dwellings marked with defined rock paintings and engraved figures according to families. Each of the caves has an average of 0.5 metres diameter entrance, 2.5-metre diameter chamber and a roof height of 1.5 metres and is interconnected. Researchers believe they were refugee camps used by ancient people as shelter during the slave trade and wars between the 14th and 17th centuries.

    There are also historical monument of Shau-Shau iron smelting works located 45 kilometres into the Yankari Forest, measuring 250 square metres and used by ancient tribes as a local iron smelting factory. The iron smelting area which has over 60 standing shaft furnaces is believed to be the largest historical industrial complex of its time in the West African sub-region.

    The over 139 wells, also have interconnecting shafts surrounding the settlements and the wells are said to have been used as resting places by the trans-Atlantic slave traders. The Duguri Hill within the reserve enables tourists to have a bird’s view of the park. The Kanyo Hill, east of Marshall Caves, is a beautiful picnic ground that provides good view of the wildlife forest while a big cave of 10 metres wide provides a popular camp at the Paliyaram Hill.

     

    Security in the park

     Despite insecurity challenges in the country, especially across the Northeast geo-political zone, Yankari Games Reserve has remained peaceful. This is because Yuguda is committed to securing the entire state, even as he is transforming the reserve into a money-spinning eco-tourism venture through private partnership participation.

    He believes that Yankari Games Reserve and Resort project, to be unveiled soon, will re-launch the state and Nigeria into the international tourist destinations scene.

  • Doing it better through tourism

    Doing it better through tourism

    Tourism is now a major engine of growth and development contributing significantly to Gross Domestic Product of many nations.

    Arising from the Earth Summit in 1992 organised by World Commission on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, sustainability has become a major ingredient for development.

    This book takes a cue from the publication of the World Tourism Organisation ( Indicators of Sustainable Development of Tourism Destination a Guidebook) to further help and inform Policy Makers and Destination Managers to obtain as much information as possible to guide their decision making process.

    To further articulate and interpret the subject matter, a set of component issues are provided including its performance indicators and verification to allow deeper knowledge. Sustainable development of tourism is applicable to all forms of tourism without exception.

    Tourism destination cannot exist without tourism product. Tourism products are the assets of the local community. They include complimentary attractions such as natural resources (beaches, waterfalls, mountains, ecosystems and landscapes) cultural and historical resources (festivals, historic sites, museums, local food) infrastructural facilities (roads, marinas, airport terminals) and support services ( tour operations, courier services, insurance, tourist information office etc).

    These attractions are planned in an integrated manner with the community aspiration and their active participation. The planning also involves creating partnership with other stakeholders such as travel agents, the tour operators, the hotel owners, the transporters  and owners of the heritage sites to mention but a few.

    These attractions are planned in an integrated manner with the community aspiration and their active participation.  The planning also involves creating partnership with other stakeholders such as the travel agents, the tour operators, the hotel owners, the transporters and owners of the heritage sites to mention but a few.

    There should be fundamental principles of creating tourism products, its development guidelines, planning process and marketing strategy.  Planners are encouraged to develop as many as what to see and what to do because tourism products are amalgamation of attractions, because the more of what to do and what to see; the more the visitors are attracted to the destination.

    The author made reference to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the United Nations Environmental Programme, which set out twelve aims towards achieving sustainable development through tourism.

    From the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Human Development Report of 2003 reviewed in 2011 and 2013 respectively, it was reported that these aims are set to reduce poverty in the world.   Already over 1.2 billion people are in extreme poverty level.  More than two-third of them live in Asia, half of them are in South Asia while one fourth reside in Sub-Sahara Africa.  The larger majority of the poor live in medium and large size countries.  More than sixty percent of the event world’s poor reside in just five countries and other less developed nations live in hunger and malnutrition, lack access to good health, water, housing, education and basic skills.

    The book tourism development is recommended to some of these countries as a means of combating poverty thereby reducing their poverty level and improving their quality of life.

    The overall objective of the concluding part of the book is to identify specific policy areas for which policy implementation can be formulated to reduce poverty and improve the well-being of the people.  The policy area articulated include conservation of physical integrity, visitor’s fulfilment, economic viability of tourism enterprises, its local prosperity, employment opportunities and the impact on the wellbeing of the local population.

    Visitors appeals are the attractions of the destination which could be natural, cultural, historical and manmade.  Maintenance and conservation of the attractions with respect to local circumstance are subject to policy formation.  Government is encouraged to develop appropriate policies that will bring about deliberate actions towards sustainable development.

    Sustainable development of tourism requires sound planning as well as protection and management of key elements such as destination assets, involvement of the local community and other stakeholders.

    Where no plan exists in a locality, it becomes imperative to identify possible assets and collate data on all elements associated with tourism potentials and threats.   Where a plan exists, then evaluate current tourism plan, issues and objectives to improve upon the existing system and initiate plans in consonance with sustainable development of tourism.

    The chapter is designed to provide in-depth study on destination planning and development by throwing more lights on tourism and planning, destination elements and characteristics, types of planning approach, destination development and control including parties that make tourism work at a destination.  Policy Makers and Destination Managers are encouraged to understand the planning process in tourism and what makes tourism work sustainably in a destination.

    Who has the mandate to plan and manage tourism destination?, the author asks.

    He went further in the publication to describe tourism as multi-sectorial and multi-discipline where no single entity (stakeholder) can lay absolute acknowledge to its management.  It bore on the importance of destination managers to understand the policy behind sustainability.

    The highlight of the success of the any destination is based on the following:

    •Emphasis on poverty reduction and increase on the quality of life of the local residents;

    •Protection of unique ecosystem, heritage sites and places of memory.

    •Establishment of the role of private sector in the planning, financing, implementation and ownership of the tourism operations;

    •Ensuring that the poor play active  role in the supply of goods and services including management of destinations;

    •Development of effective marketing and promotion strategies;

    •Co-ordination of essential government services;

    •Creating awareness among the stakeholders and the local community;

    •Ensuring implementation of regulation and control throughout the destination area.

    Tourism Destination Management; A Guide for Policy Makers and Destination Management gives an insight into the roles of various stakeholders and the Destination Management Organisation in the overall management of the destinations.

    Tourism destination is a place where visitors spend atleast one night. It covers a geographical and administrative boundary where products and services are offered to the visitors.

    Visitors in turn absorb complimentary and experiences, and share same with other (friends, families, colleagues and group).  These complimentary and experiences are expectations.  They could either be interesting or unpleasant.  It is a place where several actors and stakeholders nest, network and offer their services.  They are not limited to the following; public authorities, destination management organizations, transport operators, accommodation providers, heritage conservators, travel agent, tour operators, tour guide, financial institutions, other ancillaries and service providers including the host community.

    Destinations vary depending on their assets and unique attractions.  While issues affecting one destination may be similar to the other but several destinations are distinct in their attractiveness.  This chapter is designed for tourism professionals and managers of destinations to understand and appreciate the complexity, flexibility, similarity and uniqueness of destinations.

    It is certainly possible that issues affecting cultural heritage sites in the areas of protection and conservations are likely to have similar issues of ecosystem and biodiversity with beaches and coastal zones.

  • Kwara varsity urges focus on tourism

    Kwara varsity urges focus on tourism

    The Kwara State University (KWASU) has challenged the state and local governments in the state to partner with it to develop the state tourism potentials.

    KWASU is developing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Cape Peninsula and Assumption Universities in tourism development, Vice Chancellor, Prof Abdulrasheed Na’Allah said.

    Prof Na’Allah was speaking to  reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, while unveiling the institution’s newly established School of Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management (STHEM).

    He said STHEM will explore the business potentials in the fields of tourism and managements of events.

    Said he: “Thailand is one of the most successful tourism developed nations in the world. It has nothing than agriculture and tourism, yet it is comparable to any developed nation of the world.

    “Cape Town area has also developed tourism in a big way. KWASU is therefore developing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cape Peninsular and Assumption Universities in South Africa and Thailand. Right now, two of our members of staff are doing their doctoral programmes at Assumption University, Thailand.

    “Nigeria is endowed with a lot of tourism and cultural attractions yet we don’t have our universities vigorously pursuing courses in this line. The Kwara State University is set to pursue the sector and develop appropriately.

    “Right now I am throwing this challenge opens to every local government, Kwara state ministry of tourism to come and collaborate with KWASU school of tourism, hospitality and event management. We must begin to place tourism at the place it belongs. We want to place Esie, Museum, Patigi and Owu falls in front burner. I want chairmen of local governments to create tourism units in their respective councils; so that we can attract people from all over the world to the state.

    The new school which would offer relevant courses and programmes in tourism would train and prepare students for business opportunities in the fields “to gain extensive knowledge in the fundamentals of business administration applicable to global service sector”.

    He said when tourism especially is fully explored, the era of people roaming the streets in search of jobs “should end forever”, adding that stakeholders in the fields of tourism, hospitality and event management should begin to standardise the businesses.

    According to him, opportunities in the three fields are so wide especially given the huge amount of money people spend on events. He said the university would collaborate with the community and governments at all levels to explore all the tourist attractions Nigeria is endowed with.

    He added that: “So our goal is develop excellence in pedagogue, business and research in tourism, hospitality and event management.

    “Built on the curricula cornerstones of resort management, environmental tourism, events management, and cultural and heritage tourism, courses will equip students with knowledge, skills and experience in managing the tourism, hospitality or event for the benefit of the traveller, the host, the event participant and the supporting industry.”