“ATTWON has been promoting responsible journalism, and domestic tourism, supporting and developing members, and encouraging the conservation and preservation of travel resources in Nigeria”
-Annabel Kufre (PRO, Association of Travel and Tourism Writers of Nigeria)
The critical role that tourism plays in any country’s economic development is squarely predicated on the strong tripod pillars of the generation of both income and employment, in addition to foreign exchange revenue. Leading the pack on the global scale is France, with an average of 100 million tourists annually, followed by Spain with 85 million and United States boasting of 22.26 million visitors. Other countries that rank high in that regard include Turkey, Mexico, Thailand, and Germany. But Nigeria has 1.47 million tourists per year as at 2019. That is according to macrotrends online portal.
Furthermore, in 2022 tourism contributed a meagre 3.6 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP. That piece of vital information was provided by Statista Research Department. It could be much better, is it not? Of course, it should. That brings to the public sphere the importance the mass media plays, especially in identifying, projecting and consistently promoting places of attractive tourism destination, not only for the citizens but up to the global community. That would definitely be achieved under a secure environment, buoyed by an enabling atmosphere for businesses to thrive.
Good enough, that some eight years ago, a group of travel and tourism journalists and enthusiasts set up the Association of Travel and Tourism Writers of Nigeria (ATTWON). The move was informed by a deep conviction to selflessly galvanize the industry to achieve its vast potentials and serve as a major economic hub for the nation.
Registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on June 10, 2016, RC CAC/IT/ No 88082, ATTWON, it became the first and only association of travel and tourism writers, including journalists, photographers, editors, and tourism professionals dedicated to the development of the industry to be so registered.
In fact, at inception, ATTWON saw the increasing need to bring the country’s travel media and tourism industry closer in unity for a positive transformation of the industry while showcasing the tourism potentials of the country on the global tourism map. And ever since, ATTWON has been promoting responsible journalism, and domestic tourism, supporting and developing members, and encouraging the conservation and preservation of travel resources in Nigeria. That is according to the PRO, Kufre.
But it is sad to note that instead of like minds forging ahead in unity, another association has acted as a cog in the wheel of progress. According to ATTWON’s spokesperson, Kufre: “This is contrary to the misleading publication made by the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET), claiming exclusive status as the only registered association for travel and tourism writers. We find it necessary to set the records straight and ensure accurate information is conveyed to the industry stakeholders and the public.”
Furthermore, she insists that: “It is important to emphasise that aside from ATTWON members, there are other independent travel and tourism journalists, writers and television producers, who all responsibly promote the industry and the nation’s vast tourism potentials, and also, in their various capacities, relate with industry stakeholders and supervising agencies for the overall good of the sector. For us at ATTWON, this multiplicity of actors in the writing and reporting segment of the sector absolutely bodes well for the industry.” For independent observes of the tourism industry the unfolding ping-pong brickbats unfolding between ATTWON and ANJET throws up some burning questions:
For instance, will ANJET’s stance to think its members are the only travel and tourism journalists in the country, or wearing the toga of the one that solely defines who a travel journalist is, and who the supervising ministry and agencies would relate with further the cause of strengthening Nigeria’s tourism industry? Will the monopoly that ANJET seeks to perpetuate assist to attract more local and foreign tourists? Was ANJET right in its opposition to the membership approval that two media associations cannot be under FTAN?
It would be recalled that as a way of stepping its missions, ATTWON as a media association, about six years ago, applied and paid for membership in the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), like the other associations. But ANJET, according to Kufre was opposed to that move.
FTAN, which was established in 1997 by the then Federal Ministry of Commerce and Tourism to ensure smooth operation and cooperation between government agencies and the organized private sector in Nigeria, was misled to do the bidding of ANJET. But it is heartwarming to note that perception at FTAN about ATTWON has now changed and the relationship, cordial and mutually tailored to growing the industry.
Indeed, FTAN has multiple associations per sector like the Hoteliers, Training Institutes and the like. Even if ANJET is duly registered, why should there be a monopoly in the media segment? Is it for the growth and development of the sector or themselves?
Recently, the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) organised a training tagged, ‘Train-the-Trainer Programme’ on Hospitality and Tourism Trade for Tourism and Hospitality trainers, stakeholders and tourism journalists in Lagos.
Though ANJET frowned at the proposed training allowance for attendees as being too small, asking that it be reviewed upwards, otherwise they threatened to back out of the training, gladly, the NIHOTOUR hierarchy stood its ground, called their bluff and went on with the training.
Not given to such ANJET’s opposition, however, ATTWON members and indeed other independent travel journalists and writers took part in the hugely successful training. In addition, the training received a media coverage and mileage that no event had ever achieved before in the industry. And this much was confirmed by NIHOTOUR officials.
According to Kufre: “For the records, ATTWON has, since 2017, been organising various programmes such as, ‘ATTWON Open House’ and ‘ATTWON Tourism Parliament’ where major stakeholders have always come together to discuss issues affecting the industry. We also actively participated in the call for the Tourism Ministry to be separated from the Information Ministry, among many other advocacies that we have done in the past. And we would not relent; many more impactful initiatives are up our sleeves.”
With all these achievements under its sleeve, ATTWON should remain committed to upholding the highest industry standards, fostering professional excellence, and ensuring that its members continue to contribute positively to the growth and promotion of the travel and tourism sector, as it has been doing devoid of all forms of distraction.
