The Nation Newspaper

Tag: tourism

  • FCMB promotes tourism

    First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited wants Nigerians to sustain the country’s cultural heritage to boost tourism and its benefits.

    In a statement issued ahead of the flag-off activities for this year’s Ojude-Oba Festival, scheduled to hold on August 24, the bank said it has over the years been a major sponsor of the festival and has continued to play a significant role in ensuring its success.

    The Ojude Oba (which in Ijebu dialect means, the king’s fore-court or frontage) is a major festival in Nigeria that began over 100 years ago. It brings together all sons and daughters of Ijebuland in Nigeria and diaspora for a carnival-like celebration of the traditional, cultural, spiritual accomplishments and other values of the Ijebu nation.

    In a goodwill message to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona on the occasion of this year’s Festival, the Group Chief Executive of FCMB Group Plc, Ladi Balogun, congratulated the monarch for upholding the values of Ijebuland and raising the status of the event over the years. He reiterated the commitment of the financial institution to the longevity of the Ojude Oba Festival.

    ‘’For all true sons and daughters of Ijebuland, the Ojude Oba Festival is more than an event for us. It has become a long-standing yearly tradition we look forward to as a unifying platform and a tourist attraction.

    For over a century, the Festival has become an internationally acclaimed event that has gone a long way to promote our cultural heritage and further unify humanity.

  • Use tourism to fight unemployment, Amachree urges govt

    The Proprietor of Brooklyn Hotel Group and former President of the  Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), Chief Mike Amachree, has called on different tiers of government in the country to use tourism to fight unemployment in the country.

    He said tourism was the highest employer of labour globally and by investing and paying greater attention to tourism, the industry could generate jobs and reduce unemployment.

    Amachree was speaking during the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) AGM in Abuja recently  where he was conferred with the honour of Nigeria’s Father of Tourism.

    Speaking on why FTAN decided to confer the  honour of Nigeria’s Father of Tourism on  Amachree,  FTAN President, Alhaji Saleh Rabo, said Amachree had been in the tourism industry for more than 55 years and had contributed immensely to the development of tourism in the country.

    He said Amachree was among the founders of FTAN and had done a lot for the country in the course of promoting and advocating for the development of the industry.

    Among some of the achievements of Amachree included: first National President of Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) in 1990; a director of the Nigeria Tourist Board (now NTDC) in 1991; representative of Nigeria at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Commission for Africa conference in 1992 in Ghana; organized the first Abuja Carnival in 1990 when General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) was the head of state.

    Also during the FTAN AGM, Alhaji Saleh Rabo called for the injection of funds in the Nigerian tourism industry.

    He  said: “Essentially, we want to engage some national and international funding organizations to secure grants or investment funds, something akin to what the agriculture sector in Nigeria benefits.

    “Accordingly, we plan to engage relevant organisations, including the Bank of Industry (BOI) and Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to support FTAN members”.

    Speaking on the activities of FTAN in the last one year, Rabo said: “So far, we have attained some of the milestones we espoused in our campaigns, and we are still making considerable efforts to consummate even more of our strategic plans. So far, we have secured a befitting national secretariat for FTAN and have since improved the structures and processes of the secretariat functions and administration.

    “We have recently set up of a Department of Tourism Research and Advocacy, as well as trained some FTAN staff on diverse professional subjects.

    “More so, FTAN is on the verge of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The MoU will cover both capacity development of the new FTAN Research Department, as well as, partnership on tourism industry research, including the Nigeria Tourism Satellite Account (TSA); promoted by the Ministry of Information and Culture.

    “Talking about Nigerian tourism development and true to our promise of opening up new destinations, we have started moving the quarterly FTAN governing council meeting across Nigeria’s geo-political zones. So far, we have had two council meetings in Lagos and one in Port Harcourt. In fact, the next council meeting in October this year would be hosted by FTAN South-East Zone, precisely in Owerri.”

    He stressed that FTAN goals are to facilitate tourism investments for operators in our industry. Reiterating the federation plans to designate members as ‘recognizable Tourism Operators Clusters for harmonization of standards and work with investment funds to benchmark  financial service needs, such as designing transparent framework for qualification and access to investment funds/grant, and bankable conditions for collaterals or group guarantees.’

    The high point of the FTAN AGM was the adoption of a new constitution for the association which was adopted by the house and came into effect.

  • Nigeria safe, secure for tourism, says Buhari 

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja declared that Nigeria is safe and secure for tourism, citing improved security and country’s burgeoning economy.

    He made the remark while receiving Mr Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, it would have been inconceivable to host an international tourism conference in Abuja four years ago, because of security concerns.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said ‘‘I am pleased that the country is now sufficiently safe and secure, and the message should go out to the world for all tourists and business travellers. The first thing tourists look out for is security and I am happy we have it now.

    ‘‘Minister Lai Mohammed has been trying to convince the world that Nigeria is safe and has great potentials for tourism and investment.

    “I am glad that you and your team have come here to see things for yourself,’’ the President told the UN tourism chief, who is in Abuja for the 61st UNWTO Commission for Africa (CAF) conference.” he stated

    Highlighting the nexus between tourism and sustainable development, the President said Nigeria would not be left behind in ensuring that communities and businesses benefit from tourism development.

    In his remarks, Pololikashvili commended Nigeria for the successful hosting of the conference which brings together African Ministers of Tourism, principal executives of the global tourism body and other stakeholders in the tourism sector.

    The UN tourism chief told the President Nigeria had huge potential to develop the tourism sector considering its large economy.

    ‘‘We can do it in Nigeria, we can create, convert Nigeria to the main tourist destination in Africa. There is a huge potential here. Culture, nature, food you have everything here.

    ‘‘You are investing in agriculture, improving seamless travel through visa-on-arrival programme, reforming the economy and doing so much on security. Nigeria is safe,’’ Pololikashvili said.

    Also speaking, the Information and Culture Minister said 166 delegates, including 26 tourism ministers from Africa are attending the UN tourism conference, holding from June 4 to June 6 in Abuja.

    Pololikashvili described the ongoing 61st meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Africa (CAF) in Abuja as one of the most successful events of the global body.

    He spoke in Abuja at a joint news conference with the Minister of Information and Culture.

    He said the UNWTO will leverage the success of the meeting to promote Nigeria to become a top tourist destination in the world and commended the minister for putting Nigeria on the global tourism map.

    ”Thanks to the minister that is pushing Nigeria as a new tourist destination. We are here to support Nigeria to be the most important and most attractive place to come to visit to enjoy the culture,” Mr. Pololikashvili said.

    Mr. Pololikashvili said the meeting had provided a veritable platform to discuss and articulate concrete steps towards the development of tourism on the continent.

    ”We had very interesting discussions with ministers and we made very concrete decisions on how to continue and how to work with African Continent, which has full support from our organization, and we are very glad that we are going in the right way.

    ”We have an ambitious plan. We want to promote Africa as one of the main and most important tourism destinations in the world,” he said.

    Mohammed said:  ”I know it is for our guests to assess the event, but I must say that I am quite satisfied with the way the meeting has gone so far – the impressive attendance, the quality of contributions, the spectacular nature of the social events and, in particular, the passion and commitment of the Secretary-General, who has attended all the key events..

    ”Without being immodest, let me say that we are very proud of the hosting of the 61st Meeting of the UNWTO CAF. We are very proud of the role played by the UNWTO and CAF. We are happy with the attendance of delegates and we are happy with the events overall.”

  • Nigeria safe, secure for tourism, says Buhari

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has declared that Nigeria is safe and secure for tourism, citing improved security and the country’s burgeoning economy.

    He spoke while receiving the Secretary-General of United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, it would have been inconceivable to host an international tourism conference in Abuja four years ago, because of security concerns.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said: ”I am pleased that the country is now sufficiently safe and secure, and the message should go out to the world for all tourists and business travellers. The first thing tourists look out for is security and I am happy we have it now.

    ”Minister Lai Mohammed has been trying to convince the world that Nigeria is safe and has great potentials for tourism and investment.

    “I am glad that you and your team have come here to see things for yourself,” the President told the UN tourism chief, who is in Abuja for the 61st UNWTO Commission for Africa (CAF) conference.

    Highlighting the nexus between tourism and sustainable growth, the President said Nigeria would not be left behind in ensuring that communities and businesses benefit from tourism growth.

    Pololikashvili lauded Nigeria for the successful hosting of the conference, which brings together African Ministers of Tourism, principal executives of the global tourism body and other stakeholders.

    The UN tourism chief told the President Nigeria had huge potential to develop the tourism sector considering its large economy.

    ”We can do it in Nigeria, we can create, convert Nigeria to the main tourist destination in Africa. There is a huge potential here. Culture, nature, food you have everything here.

    ”You are investing in agriculture, improving seamless travel through visa-on-arrival programme, reforming the economy and doing so much on security. Nigeria is safe,” Pololikashvili said.

    The Information and Culture Minister said 166 delegates, including 26 tourism ministers from Africa are attending the UN tourism conference, holding from June 4 to June 6 in Abuja.

     

     

     

  • Akinboboye tasks Lagos on tourism

    At the last recently held tourism summit by the Lagos State government, many stakeholders offered advice  on how best the state could be built into a tourism destination.

    With the theme: “Towards A Sustainable Tourism Driven Economy”, part of the aims of the summit was to provide resource materials for the state tourism master plan which is already in the works and it is expected to be unfolded to the public towards the end of this month by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode during the celebration of the third anniversary of his administration.

    The Founder of Motherland Beckons and President of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, who was one of the panelists at a one-day event, in his contribution, tasked the state government on rural tourism by ensuring that tourist attractions are built around the rural community because of its multiplier effects.

    Drawing extensively from his experience at developing La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Ikegun Village, Lekki, Lagos, he went down memory lane to give a brief history of how he birthed the resort over 30 years ago.

    He then spoke of the attendant economic benefits to the rural community and the rapid transformation that the presence of the resort has ignited in the village which include the provision of employment, social amenities, exposure of the people to the international best practice and empowerment as well as making the village the envy of others around it.

    To succeed with its dream, he recommended the La Campagne model to the state government, adding that any tourism initiative of the state must be built around the people and the host communities as that is the only way to secure and sustain it because it ensures economic prosperity for the people who will then buy into the project and take ownership of it instead of seeing it as a mere state government project.

    The success of the La Campagne model has today made Akinboboye a most sought- after tourism consultant and investor across Africa and Europe. Beside the resort in Ikegun, work is nearing completion at La Campagne Tropicana River and Mountain Resort in Koton Karfi, Kogi State, which is the first La Campagne resort outside Ikegun Village.

    La Campagne’s stand was one of those visited where the governor and his guests were treated to a savory taste of the resort rich offerings on display. Impressed by the glamour and creativity on display, Ambode expressed appreciation to Akinboboye for his contributions to the development of tourism and the creative industry in Lagos State, Nigeria and Africa.

    Akinboboye, who is also the founder of Corporate Guard, a renowned highbrow security outfit in Nigeria, in his response, expressed his delight over the governor’s stopover at the stand to view its exhibits. He then used the occasion to formally invite the governor and his team to pay an official visit to the resort in Ikegun Village, to which the governor gave his nod.

  • JJT, Badagry, other parks boost recreation, tourism

    PARKSand Gardens in Lagos State have lived up to expectation as they have become tourists and recreation havens. Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, who disclosed this at his Ministry’s annual ministerial briefing, which held in Alausa yesterday, said the recently established Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park, otherwise known as JJT Park, the Rafiu Jafojo Park and the Badagry Park, have continued to attract visitors from within and outside the country.

    The briefing was to commemorate the third year in office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    According to him, Governor Ambode’s Administration has progressively altered the state landscape  through aggressive greening, tree planting, beautification, landscaping and establishment of parks and gardens.

    “To enhance environmental sustainability and meet health and recreational needs of the citizenry, the state government in the last one year commissioned three world-class parks in different parts of the state. These parks are the Johnson Jakande Tinubu(JJT) Park, located in Alausa, Ikeja, Rafiu Jafojo Park in Shasha, Alimosho and Badagry Recreational Park.

    “Together with other existing parks, the JJT Park, Rafiu Jafojo Park and Badagry Recreational Park soon became vital to the tourism matrix of the state as Lagos State scaled up as both local and international tourists destination with an upsurge of park users by one hundred and twenty-four per cent,” he said.

    The state greening policy was consistent with its aim of aiding climate change mitigation efforts and reclaiming the glory of Lagos environment, which it was renowned for as well as parks and gardens. He added that government, in conformity with this goal, has encouraged the establishment of Parks and Gardens Units in all Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state to promote the ideals of greening and stimulate the development of recreational parks at the grassroots.

    “As we speak, six new parks are earmarked for development in Oregun, Iponri, Ikotun, Queens Drive (Oyinka Abayomi, Ikoyi), Iganmu and Epe in addition to the establishment of a florist’s village in Osborne, Ikoyi to enhance the greening programme,”he said.

    He explained that the state greening programme received a major boost from the state Nursery Unit, which has been able to meet ninety-five per cent of the state’s need for plant by increasing seedling production from a paltry four thousand plant seedlings monthly to over fifty thousand plant seedling monthly.

  • FTAN promotes tourism in Southeast

    Vice President, Southeast Federation of Tourists Association of Nigeria (FTAN), Mrs Ngozi Ngoka, has described the tourist sites in Southeast as marketable and capable of attracting increased traffic if the infrastructure are developed.

    She said the association was in discussion with some stakeholders on how to address the issues.

    Ngoka, who spoke on efforts to showcase potential of tourist sites in Southeast zone during a tour organised by FTAN for tourism reporters/tour operators of five eastern states, said involving stakeholders in tourism was the only way to effect change.

    She described the tour as her little  contribution to a better Nigeria, saying: “We owe it to ourselves and our children to make the country better so that we are not left behind in the global scheme.’’

    On the marketability of the heritage sites, she said: “Well, the truth is that all the sites we have visited are viable in their raw form. But,they will have increased traffic if infrastructure and facilities around the sites are improved and in some cases developed. We are  in discussions with stakeholders as a result of our findings,” she said.

    According to her, the tour was to let tour operators and tourism journalists see amazing sites in the Southeast. “Our focus is primarily to walk journalists and tour operators through the amazing historical and cultural sites in the Southeast using well-researched sample itineraries that will appeal to both local and international tourists, with the hope that the exposure will drive tourism traffic to the zone and help generate income for the communities where these tourism sites are located, plus, ultimately, boast the businesses of our federating members.

    “Our federating members have businesses that cover the spectra of the tourism chain from transportation, accommodation/feeding to site seeing/entertainment. So, essentially, we’ll explore the best ways to get to the Southeast, how to move around; Where to stay; what/where to eat and what to do while you are in Southeast. It is our hope that our invited guests will help tell our story and highlight where government and private investors can come in and help provide standard access roads and other infrastructure around the sites we have identified.

    “I believe strongly that the only way to effect change in tourism sector is to actively get involved. If we all sit down and remain elegiac about the situation, nothing will change. I’m an advocate of small collective efforts-every positive move adds up to a big change. It is also my way of contributing to a better Nigeria.”

    She said the tour was easy to sell as hotels and transport firms that participated have been recording increased bookings.

  • Minister seeks MDAs’ cooperation for tourism development

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called for cooperation among the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the generation of relevant data for the development of tourism in the country.

    The Minister who spoke in Abuja on Monday during an audience with the Technical Consultant of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) on Tourism Statistics, Mr. David McEwen in his office.

    McEwen is in Nigeria to meet with the various government MDAs with a view to developing a framework for the generation of data in the nation’s tourism industry.

    He said “Tourism, as an industry, and the other sectors are interdependent, so it’s not by coincidence today that while Mr. McEwen is here, he is going to interact with at least ten other parastatals or departments and ministries, including the National Bureau of Statistics; the
    Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation; the Nigeria Police Force; the Central Bank of Nigeria; the Nigerian Immigration Service; the National Park Service; the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria; the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria and the National
    Population Commission and other bodies.”

    While stressing the need for cooperation and coordination of the relevant MDAs, the minister said the ministry of Information and Culture, which he presides over does not generate the data required for policy formation and planning for the industry.

    “The coordinating role of the ministry is of great importance and is for us to ensure that we persuade and get the cooperation of all the other different actors in the industry for us to be able to plan and develop,” the Minister said.

    According to him, most of the agencies that generate the data are not under the purview of his ministry, but their input remains paramount in order to develop tourism in Nigeria.

    In his remarks, The Technical Consultant on Tourism Statistics of the UNWTO, Mr. McEwen, said tourism is one sector that depends largely on other sectors to succeed.

    “I don’t think there is any industry that needs coordination and cooperation like tourism. It’s one part of it that the airlines can’t do without accommodation and the accommodation can’t do without the airlines,” he said.

    The UNWTO Consultant said from the experience he gathered from other countries, statistics generated by other agencies and organs play a vital role in attaining the objective of tourism development, hence the need for the government to play a vital role in the development of
    synergy for tourism to thrive in Nigeria.

    McEwen said there will be a Technical Workshop on Tourism Statistics for stakeholders on the way forward, during the UNWTO/CAF Meeting to be hosted by Nigeria in Abuja in June.

    Read Also: Nigeria ready to host African Tourism Ministers – FG

  • Summit to tackle transport, tourism, challenges holds in Abuja

    Stakeholders in the tourism and transport industry are set to converge in Abuja for the first National Tourism and Transport Summit. The event is expected to hold at the International Conference Centre from May 21 to 22.

    The Chairman, Local Organizing Committee   of the event and  President of the Institute of Tourism Professionals (ITP), Chief   Chief Abiodun  Odusanwo explained the basis for the summit: “As players in the Tourism and Transportation sectors of the national economy in the country converge in Abuja to brainstorm on the interconnectedness between transportation and tourism; a connectivity brought by road, rail, maritime, and air transport services to chart the way forward for both sectors and by extension, reposition them  in the economic diversification drive of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration, it behooves that key stakeholders in the sectors are fully represented and participate fully in the Summit and Expo.

    “The desire for Nigeria to be the preferred destination for tourists to Africa has been a dream of well-meaning operators and policy makers in the country that has remained on the drawing board. The need for Nigeria to wake up from its slumber and take its rightful position as a front runner in Africa’s tourism industry is long overdue and can best be achieved if all relevant players in the industry put their heads together and operate in unionism.”

    He said the summit , which will also include and expo, was aimed at bringing together all players in the tourism and transport industries so that issues hindering the growth of the two sectors can be tackled without sentiments but with all sense of sincerity of purpose and patriotic zeal for the economic and social good of the country.

    Odunsanwo said: “Nigeria’s efforts and experiences at diversifying the economy from a mono-based economy; totally dependent on petroleum exports, by promoting non-petroleum sectors with particular highlight on the successful development of tourism has been tortuous and had suffered many pitfalls. This is because the various linkages and connecting sub sectors that will make tourism growth prosper, in particular transportation, has been lacking.

    “Tourism and Transport Connectivity are critical issues relating to bridging transport and tourism policies while reaffirming the need for developing programmes of inter-ministerial cooperation between bodies responsible for tourism and transport so as to improve and strengthen the basic conditions for the sustainable development of both industries. National Tourism Transport Summit is created to deliberate on the complex relationship between transport provision and tourism in boosting the economy of both sectors.”

    The theme for the summit is : “Tourism and Transportation, the Key Sectors for Economic Diversification, Sustainable Growth and Development. There will also be discussions on other sub themes such as: tourism and transportation interdependencies for mutual growth and sustainable development; potentialities of developing regional inter-connectivity in transportation and inter-modal connectivity, traveler safety and security.

    Odusanwo said the summit will  provide the platform for regulatory and enforcement agencies, national, states and local governments to reappraise and have a better understanding of the importance of tourism to local, states and national economies, and the impact of tourism on community regeneration and employment generation.

    He spoke further: “The Tourism Transport Summit and Expo as a whole offers a unique opportunity and targeted at policy makers, regulators, entrepreneurs, key players in both the tourism and transport sectors of the economy, investors, numerous esteemed customers and the general public estimated at 3,000 to engage in an all-participatory discourse aimed at chatting the desired synergy, collaboration and connective inter-play between the two sectors for maximum economic benefits of the country.

    “The Expo’s primary objective is to create a platform among all major stakeholders— Governments at Federal, States and Local levels, International Organizations, the Organized Private Sector, Transport Operators and Commuters to interact with one another through the presentation of their attainments and programmes as well as showcase their products and services to consumers, business organizations, the regulatory agencies and all key players in the various sub sectors of the industry. “

  • ‘There is paradigm shift in tourism’

    Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Director-General Mr Folorunso Coker speaks with Assistant Editor (Arts) Ozolua Uhakheme on the critical areas of tourism and the need to appreciate tourism as a business, among other issues.

    Before you were appointed NTDC director-general a year ago, you were in the tourism, arts and culture ministry in Lagos State. What is the experience like on both fronts?

    The experience at the federal level is a lot more intense than at the state level. As you must understand, their scope of responsibilities and size of jurisdiction is a lot more exciting because you learn to do so many things in so many regions rather than just in one state.

    What are the critical areas you want the government to address to reposition tourism?

    If you remember at the beginning, I launched the shift plan. First of all, there is need for a shift in thinking. Tourism is a business; it is not arts, not culture, not cultural dancing and not buba and sokoto.It’s a business so we need to address it as a business. It’s a business of transportation, hospitality and entertainment. The government needs to know that, number one, it is a corporate governance and regulation that has to do with tourism. What are the laws at the federal, the state and local government level? How are they affecting tourism? Are they best practices or not? They will also need to look at the human capital, are they trained? What kind of training they have? What kind of equipment they have to use in that training work? Whatare the welfare packages? If all these are not looked at, it is difficult for you to expect the best out of the people that you have employed to do whatever it is that they were employed for. You got to look at infrastructure inthe tourism industry because I know that every penny the government spends is for the betterment of the life of Nigerians.But it is also spent for the enjoyment of the lives of tourists who come to Nigeria. Also, there is need to put in place the tourism settler account, which the minister have already started working on. Equally, infrastructure in the form of digital technologies that are required to engage the global audience cannot be ignored. We cannot use paper anymore to do marketing of tourism activities. Finally, we have to look at the event because people are too tired of the cultural dancers, the heritage designation that we have been over flogged and no improvement.  People will rather go to Shoprite than go to Olumo rock for a day. You know people demand Wi-Fiand so much more. But, we need to create our event and create it from end to end and market them in a digital manner that everybody can see what we are talking about from the globe.

    Again, the issue of financing will always be a problem. Tourism industry facessingle digit funding to be able to actually do meaningful things within tourism industry.

    What is the update on the NTDC bill before the Senate?

    The bill has passed through the Senate and it is in the House of Representative since October, last year, for concunrrence. So, we are waiting for them to concur.

    How much of incentives is the government offering investors as attraction to grow the tourism industry?

    These include improvements in the lives of Nigerians, that ease of doing business, visa on arrival and all others. All those things make life easier for a Nigerian, but doesn’t make it easier for a foreigner and I believe that is being handled by the office of the vice president and I believe that as we are improving ease of doing business ranking by 23 states, I believe year on year new policies will be brought up to make life easier for both visitorsto Nigeria and Nigeria as a whole. So I believe that is something I cannot predict but that is coming from vice president’s office.

    Last November, NTDC workers protested against your style of administration, among other allegations. What is the relationship with them?

    Well, four months ago you saw the placards they carried. And in a 360 degrees recently too, you saw the placards they carried. I think the placards speak for themselves and we have a cordial respectful relationship. They needed to know me and I needed to know them. But you know as in all relationship, we don’t get a lot of time and understanding, we don’t get to know each other and I think we are in good phase now.

    How much incentives do we need in promoting domestic tourism?

     I think we don’t have a choice. Nigerians have cheapest holiday. If we don’t take Nigeria seriouslyas a cheapest holiday we will just be transferring a hard earned naira into dollars to go out there. We don’t need a visa to go on holiday in Nigeria, you don’t need a foreign exchange, and you don’t need to roam your phones. We have so many advantages. So, we got to look inward while the US dollar is currently angry with our naira. We have to focus inward and drive our money through the establishment ofinstitutions that make up Nigeria tourism. We understand that tourism is simple as it already exists.

    The transportation, the hospitality and entertainment already exist. It is a question of marketing it in different ways and that is how we can harness it. It is not like manufacturing where you have to go and buy the machines, train many staff and do so many things. It is not like agriculture where you have to weed, plant, grow, harvest and take it to market. All the assets are already there if we look at the new medium of culture and expression that God blessed us with through game, food, music, fashion, sport, arts and religion. So, if we can add that to what we already have with the population, I think the soup is ready just for somebody to light it and boil a little and we are ready to go.