FeaturesStrategic Approach Critical To Sustainable Tourism Development

Strategic Approach Critical To Sustainable Tourism Development

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August 19, (THEWILL) – Effective application of modern technology, collaboration, capacity building among others are considered non- negotiable and essential to overcoming the inhibitions affecting tourism growth in Nigeria.

In this report, TheWill writes on the need for adopting a more strategic policy to address major challenges in the tourism sector.

According to a report, stakeholders in Nigerian tourism sector are pushing for the adoption of digital technology, partnership of real value to boost tourism business in the country. They reiterated that getting involved in partnership with like-minded practitioners is a recipe for business sustainability.

With commitment to train hospitality, and tourism operators, they are of the belief, such giant strides will improve status of tourism industry across Nigeria. The stakeholders restated their commitments to training hospitality and tourism operators, which would further enhance the continuous improvement of the industry.

Earlier, Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom has advised tourism stakeholders to device new methods that would make the country’s tourism industry attractive and economically beneficial.

He pledged the assistance and partnership of the state government but urged practitioners to adopt measures that would project their services and attract goodwill to the country.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has called on operators and practitioners in the Nigerian Travel-Tourism and Hospitality industry to seize the opportunity occasioned by the Covid-19 global pandemic to re-strategize and re-position the industry for better growth and development via the application of digital technology, noting that as bad and critical as the pandemic is, it is an eye opener for the Nigerian tourism industry to be resilient in ensuring that the industry works for the socio- economic good of the country.

Lai Mohammed who made the call in Abuja recently said that human capital development of the Nigerian tourism sector must be compliant with the provisions of the protocol guidelines of Covid-19 for the safety of both service providers and customers as a way of building confidence in the sector.

Early, Director General, NCF, Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano noted.

“And we have a consultant who is a tourism expert that is developing component and we have biodiversity experts that are working together to propel the proposal for this program jointly are NTDC and other organisation from World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). It is a very big step and I think we can pilot the Shaka and Yankari.”

Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR, Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa, noted that “the core mandate of the institute is to provide professional basic, intermediate and advanced training for individuals interested in the tourism and hospitality sector.

“Application for training would be welcome as the institute operates more than eight campuses.

“With NIHOTOUR’s certification, individuals should be assured of working in any tourism and hospitality outfit in the country and beyond.”

“We are improving constantly and we remain committed to rendering the needed training every hospitality or tourism operator desires.”

Founder, Akwaaba Africa Travel and Tourism Market, Ikechi Uko, maintained his consistent advocacy for government to synergise with tourism investors in Nigeria as a way of growing tourism businesses.

Also speaking, Dr. Ifeoma Adora Anyanwutaku, Permanent Secretary of the Information and Culture Ministry, said personnel in the tourism and hospitality sector in Nigeria must acquire skills that will enable them conduct their businesses in a safer and sustainable manner in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, assuring that the NIHOTOUR is in a better position to provide the platform for impacting the necessary skills for such professional conducts that adhere strictly to the Covid-19 non-pharmaceutical protocols.

She stated that the current technological break-through in ICT has made it possible for people to conduct business without much of physical contact through the deployment of electronic and online transactions that are a critical component of the Covid-19 protocol provisions.

Alhaji Kangiwa said though the Tourism and Hospitality sector is the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic globally, the industry remains the most viable sector of the Nigerian economy, stressing that while government’s proactive measures and efforts must be appreciated at stemming the tide of Covid-19 pandemic spread, stakeholders in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry must deploy the use of modern technology to adequately equip themselves with necessary skills for efficient and effective service delivery without compromising their safety and wellbeing and those of the patronizing customers against the deadly virus.

Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture to the governor, Mr. Solomon Bonu, unveiled plans by the ministry to train 500 youths from the five IBILE Divisions of the state as Tour Guides. He equally stated that the Tour Guides in place would complement efforts at domesticating tourism activities in the local government areas. “With this idea, tourists that visit our state would now have a better experience as they would be professionally guided and accompanied to all the tourism sites in the state by local people with local knowledge of their respective communities.”

In a nutshell, the same way the ministry is training creative practitioners under its Lagos State Creative Industry Initiative, LACI, Tour Guides and members of Tourism Clubs will also be trained to meet the needs of tourists in all our tourism sites.

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Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL

Janefrances Chibuzor, THEWILLhttps://thewillnews.com
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL

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