World Tourism Day: Stakeholders seek stronger government support
Tourism stakeholders have urged governments to provide stronger support and an enabling environment to unlock Africa’s tourism potential.
They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
Speaking on the challenges and opportunities facing African tourism, they identified easier travel, infrastructure, security and deliberate destination promotion, as factors thst can hinder domestic and intra-African tourism.
Dr Iyadunni Gbadebo, Director of Sales and Marketing, Eko Hotels and Suites, said tourism required practical action rather than continued discussions at conferences.
Gbadebo said though tourism was largely private-sector driven, government had an important role in creating conditions for the industry to grow.
“I’m tired of talking in conferences and exhibitions. It’s time for action.
“Government needs to enable the growth and take us half as seriously as it takes oil,” she said.
Gbadebo said Nigeria could use its music and entertainment strength to promote destinations and stimulate activity across the tourism value chain.
She proposed concerts across the 36 states, saying musicians could attract visitors while generating business for hotels, airlines and other operators.
“If every Nigerian puts Nigeria first, we are plenty. We can conquer,” she said.
Agatha Iyok, a Camerounian travel agent, said governments across Africa needed to take tourism seriously and deliberately promote their destinations.
She identified infrastructure, security and cumbersome visa processes among factors that could hinder domestic and intra-African tourism.
“I would plead on the government, especially the policy makers, to take it as a duty to promote tourism in Africa,” she said.
Iyok, who is also the Director of Flora Travel and Tours Company in Limbe, said African destinations also needed greater visibility to attract travellers.
She said lesser-known destinations in Central Africa were particularly affected because many people remained unaware of what the region offered.
Iyok said African countries needed to collaborate and promote one another, particularly as more Africans considered travelling within the continent.
“Central Africa, Cameroun, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Chad, South Tome, Central Africa, people don’t know about these countries.
“Africa cannot be promoted without Africans themselves being intentional, being deliberate, and knowing that we have to collaborate,” she said.
Oganiser of the Akwaaba African Travel Market (AATM), Ikechi Uko, said government support remained a major challenge for tourism events and initiatives.
Uko said governments in some countries supported tourism events through venues and other assistance, unlike his experience in Nigeria.
He said Nigeria needed platforms that identified tourism challenges and created opportunities to address them.
Citing flight delays, cancellations, payment difficulties and cargo issues as examples of challenges requiring attention, he said AATM had always sought to provide solutions to the problems in the industry.
“Our gift has been always solving problems,” he said.
He said stronger support for tourism would help create platforms capable of promoting Nigeria and other African destinations while addressing problems within the industry. (NAN)
