All Set for Tourism: What Role?
By Justina Okpanku
The end of the second quarter may have showed a marked improvement in the prospects of the tourism sector in the country.
Indeed, the response of government towards tourism development is improving, which is a good a thing. Promoters of tourism are no longer left on their own without making any meaningful impact in the global tourism industry.
But the way tourism business is approached in this clime has not changed. Surely because there is lack of enabling environment, all the talks bordering on tourism development in the country amount to nothingness. Lip-service and disappointing of the past still rear its head.
The real issue is, who are the tourism stakeholders that should advance the industry? What measures have they taken in order to reach set goals?
The World Summit on Sustainable Development held last year in Johannesburg, South Africa called on people to play an increasingly active role in promoting sustainable tourism development in order to increase the benefits from tourism resources for the population.
By implication benefits from tourism go to the local communities, from the airlines that bring in tourists and business travellers, hotels that provide accommodation and leisure facilities, restaurants, newspapers, transport providers, tour guides and tour operators, fashion designers, art and craft makers to the farmer that produce eggs which are served the visitors.
Tourism would not be tourism without powerful men and women in policy making and position of authority.
The simple option is to involve everybody.
A Commissioner, Securities and Exchange Commission and Chairman, Bepong Nigeria Limited, Mr. Fred Archibong, presented a paper titled "The Role of Stakeholders in the Tourism Industry at a workshop in Obudu recently and canvassed for a framework for an enduring tourism industry in the country.
He said: "lndustrialized nations all over the world have used tourism as the bedrock of their development primarily because it is an all embracing, job creating, revenue generating and conflict management pioneer profession in the world. Being the No. 1 job creator in the world, there is no gainsaying that tourism exists in all spheres of our lives."
Archibong told a story of tourism dating as far back to the 18th century in England when doctors encouraged their wealthy patients to visit health - reviving mineral springs or to bathe in the sea.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, with greater affluence and better means of transportation, tourists have increasingly begun to take their holidays in foreign countries, thus developing modern tourism industry.
At present, tourism is a rapidly growing industry in Africa and the world at large.
"Tourism plays a very important role in the economy of any country as long as the country gives it a paramount position in its economy," he said.
The Federal Government recently said it will focus on six priority areas, including agriculture and tourism to re-engineer the economy. It is believed tourism will be accorded its pride of place in the scheme of things.
It is imperative because World Tourism Organisation (WTO) statistics shows that countries across the globe are actually benefiting from tourism.
For example, tourism activity generated 483,700 jobs and contributed $ 14.2 billion (US Dollars) i.e. 2.4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the entire country of Canada in 1992. Also in Spain, in a particular year, tourism generated revenue to the tune of $45 billion US dollars domestically and $ 5 billion US dollars internationally as all citizens are conscious of tourists and are both friendly with a lot of kindness to non-indigenes.
"This evidently portrays the emphasis we request on all Nigerians contribution towards our tourism development," explained Archibong.
One will say that is the west where tourism is a way of life.
The picture of Africa's tourism market in 1997 (statistics in most African countries on tourism is lacking) showed that South Africa had 5,530 arrivals and a receipt of US$2,297million; Tunisia, 4,263 arrivals and US$1,5540 million; Morocco 3,115 and US$1,200 million; Ghana 325 arrivals, US266 million, Nigeria 611 and US$86 million; Kenya 750 arrivals and US$502 million and so on.
At present, there is an increasingly improved figure in tourist arrivals and receipts in these countries. Tourism dividends still elude Nigeria even though she is blessed with enviable tourism endowment such as eco-tourism, cultural tourism, museums and monuments.
Government officials would always say tourism is predominantly a private sector initiative and business, and governments worldwide have only provided an enabling platform with its infrastructural attendance for its positive growth.
President Olusegun Obasanjo inaugurated a Presidential Council on Tourism which has distinguished personalities as members to look at the tourism scenario, the gray areas and fix it.
It is a good cause, but the transformation of the nation's tourism into an important sector like oil and gas lies in having enabling environment.
Clearly, tourism takes a back seat any time there is an increase in the prices of petroleum products. Its been thrice or more within nine months. That also explain why there is no serious public/private partnership in the sector except the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) recent step, once in over six years of wake-up call. NATOP set up a Board of Trustees, with members drawn from both the public and private sector to strategise on a way forward for tourism in the country.
Indeed, some states like Cross River State took advantage of its natural tourism endowment to ensure Nigeria earn better revenue.
Ogun State recently started a tourism initiative around Olomu Rock to attract tourists and investors to the state.
Some government agencies are also making headway. The recent is the collaboration between Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). The agencies organised a workshop for tourism operators on accessing the capital market for tourism development.
Despite the dismal attendance of individual operators at the workshop, it is still useful for investors who would just go to the capital market, instead of getting short-term funds from banks for projects.
But financial institutions can assist in the development of the tourism industry through direct investments, provision of long term loans to tourism practitioners and investors at reasonable interest rates.
The increased visibility of tourism in the land lies in the role played media. Every newspaper in the country at least allocates a page for tourism. The electronic media is also focusing on tourism.
It appears there is more to be done for the tourism industry by all and sundry.
Archibong said: "Growth and development of the tourism industry depends on a collaborative and coordinated approach that involves the government and other stakeholders performing their roles and doing what they should do as tom give tourism priority."
In the foregoing, government knows its role in developing tourism(it has been a sing song for years).
It is better to concentrate effort on the security operatives, hotel and restaurant owners, doctors/hospitals, sports administrators/practitioners and employees of labour. For instance, the following could go a long way to help jump-start the industry:
The security operatives such as the Immigration, NDLEA and Customs should reduce the incessant harassment and long waits at points of entry and check points. The Police can ensure security of lives and properties, set up a Tourism police force specifically to reduce crime and security problems whilst exhibiting impartiality in cases.
Tourism practitioners and hoteliers can contribute their own quota by building and managing hotels in accordance with international standards. Recognising the impact of technology in the design of modern operational facilities in the hospitality establishments around the world, operators in the tourism industry should as much as possible introduce automation in their operations. Since good hospitality establishments (hotels) require good facilities - furniture, fittings and equipment at all times, their maintenance and replacement should be adequately provided for by hoteliers possibly through a sinking fund or replacement reserve.
The citizenry of the country are not left out in their roles as stakeholders in the tourism industry. They must be tourist friendly, complaint and cooperate for the industry to develop. Development in the tourism industry with all aspects of the economy will lead to increased demand for transportation (air, land and sea), shopping services, crafting and souvenir production and consequently, increased demand for workers (job creation).
Archibong who is an artist said:" We, as stakeholders in the tourism industry must make significant changes in the way we approach the tourism business in Nigeria in order to reach our set goals and international standards. We must all contribute our quota so that our natural assets cultural and historical endowments can be used to attract the much needed foreign investment and subsequently diversify our rich natural and material resources over our 90% oil-dependent economy for a better tomorrow."
As tourism stakeholders has brought SEC to the table, it is hoped they will also bring others to learn how to package Nigeria to earn tourism income.
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