Security, infrastructure and packaging lapses face tourism minister

As the cabinet of the Buhari administration prepares to take-off with the appointments of ministers in the process, stakeholders in the Nigerian tourism and hospitality industry are charging government to embark on development oriented actions and polices to grow the industry.

The stakeholders decry the fact that the sector contributes a meagre 1.5 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) despite government’s avowed resolve to diversify the economy away from dependency on oil.

Ikechi Uko, CEO, Akwaaba African Travel Market, says the sector can step up, if the new government gives tourism development priority attention and makes the provision of a “business friendly environment” a reality, rather than mere political promise.

Uko further says government would need to review the laws and policies that will enable the private sector to truly drive tourism development in the country.

Citing Dubai, a desert that now lures the world to its man-made attractions; Uko said Nigeria has more than enough tourism potential (natural and made-made) that can woo tourists across the world and yield bountiful foreign exchange earnings from tourist receipt.

Asides the substantial visitors and tourists receipt that will accrue, the job opportunities that could be opened up in the industry would be welcome in this era of massive unemployment, the stakeholders say.

Uko also notes that developing, standardising and repacking tourism products in the country are imperative because of the keen competition in the tourism market across the world.

Also speaking, Shola Ilupeju, a tour operator and tourism consultant, said though there have been efforts at marketing Nigeria at global level by some concerned tourism stakeholders, in an attempt to transform travel and tourism into an economically viable industry, there is need for drastic improvement of the country’s tourism-related infrastructure.

“We cannot bring people from places where electricity, water, good roads and security are  taken for granted, and expect them to pay for darkness, drought, pot-holes, insecurity and getting kidnapped. There is specific need for substantial development of tourism infrastructure and facilities that would enable tourists get to their destinations with minimum inconvenience”, Ilupeju said.

Aliyu Makama, a hotelier, says the country should improve on its poor image outside its shores, because this tends to discourage visitors.

Majority of the stakeholders urge the incoming minister to revise and update the recommendations contained in the Tourism Masterplan and develop world class tourism products and facilities.

They further say there is a need for a Tourism Development fund (TDF) for small scale empowerment and that the capacity and effectiveness of regulatory agencies need to be enhanced.

OBINNA EMELIKE