The tourism and hospitality industries thematic group of the Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment, Creatives and Sports as a business (THECS) Policy Commission of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) recently held a focus Group Forum with the theme “Repositioning Nigeria’s Tourism and Hospitality sectors for Sustainable Growth and Profitability” .
Co-chair, THECS Policy Commission and board member of the NESG, Mr. Udeme Ufot in his welcome address said that Nigeria is uniquely positioned as an all-year round tourism destination with a strong domestic tourism sector; rich natural resources; and a variety of associated attractions including music, entertainment, sports, religion and a rich cultural heritage.
He expressed NESG’s commitment to sectoral reforms to fix some of the challenges bedeviling the Nigerian tourism and hospitality industry Including the absence of comprehensive databases of operators, nor clear, identifiable sector value chains to properly reposition the industries as viable business sectors of the economy.
He revealed that it was important for stakeholders to acknowledge the critical role government needs to play to move the sectors forward, while supporting the implementation of policies that supports the sector.
Dr. (Mrs.) Ifeoma A. Anyanwutaku, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture (FMIC) while delivering a presentation on “Tourism & Hospitality Sectors as Catalysts for Nigeria’s Economic Recovery” said that tourism has tremendous growth opportunities for the Nigerian economy and that the sectors continue to have potentials for growth.
According to her, the sectors have economic and socio-cultural impacts on the environment and plays a role in economic development including having significant potentials to aid the utilization of natural resources by providing employment and promoting inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and foreign exchange earnings for the country.
Dr. Anyanwutaku said the tourism and hospitality sectors can only thrive when there is a political will from the government and there was a need to implement certain actions including the resuscitation of the Presidential Council on Tourism (PCT), establishment of a tourism development fund, harping on a review of the governing laws and establishment of a tourist guide company for the country to fast track the development of the sectors.
Director-general, Nigerian Institute for Hospitality (NIHOTOUR), Mr. Nura Kaginwa said that said there was a need for policy and regulatory framework for the industry to help the growth and development of tourism and hospitality in Nigeria.
Mrs. Ngozi Ngoka, Thematic Lead Tourism & Hospitality Industries Thematic Group (THITG), Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) “Proposed Roadmap for Optimized Tourism and Hospitality Sectors in Nigeria” said there are 3 types of tourism, Domestic, in-bound and outbound tourism and that the three forms can be combined to form internal, national and international tourism. She said that some of the economic challenges faced by hotels in Nigeria include insufficient manpower training, absence of tourism police, lack of effective collaboration between national and subnational governments, insufficient marketing of Nigeria as a tourist destination.
She said a growing diaspora market and positive image created by the entertainment and creative sector offer a ray of hope for the transformation of the sectors.
