Nigeria tourism tomorrow – NANTA leads the way

Nigeria’s travel trade practitioners body, the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) rekindled hope for a fresh tourism rebirth for the country at its 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos on Tuesday.

At the open conference on tourism with the Theme: “Tourism in a recessed economy, the way forward,” the association from all intents and purposes advanced a new practical approach to redeem tourism, leaving no room for excuses and showmanship.

Nanta President Bernard Bankole who was at his fiery best, fired the first salvo when he told the audience of practitioners and top government representatives to wake up from slumber and shake off the self-pity position on recession.

Bankole whose regime in Nanta has practically assumed the face of tourism in Nigeria in the past one year, notes that the downturn in the economy is not an end to any creative nation and people determined to rise from the dust and urged Nanta members and other practitioners of tourism to pull up the weight and break new grounds.
Indeed, Bankole’s Nanta is the voice from the wilderness and again the people heeded the voice of their leader. Speakers upon speakers toed the Nanta call and from all practical intentions, the prestigious hall of Sheraton Ikeja where the event took place became too “small’” to accommodate the seemingly distrust members and the public who had come to hear the miracle voice and direction of Nanta and other “tourism prophets”.

Though the “prophets” spoke and called for a new tourism evangelism and reawakening of progressive tourism competitiveness, the practical reality was also evident throughout the event as hoteliers, airlines, travel trade companies and global distribution services companies took over strategic vintage points and halls way to display their products and woo customers.

Specifically, Nanta availed the opportunities in marketing the industry and the visiting crowd and visitors spent more time on trade deals and getting educated on emerging new trade portfolios. The lessons learnt were huge and unbelievably encouraging, a strong pointer that Nanta is on the right track, yet there are still miles to go.
It is cheering again to note that the private sector as represented by Nanta has taken the bull by the horn, driving the message and the government at both federal and states level, now key bench warmers at the high table of tourism events. However, as much as this is desirable, the role of government is to ensure security of both domestic and foreign tourists, provide key drivers of tourism in roads, livable airports, seaports and majorly electricity in old and new emerging city destinations.

Honestly, Nanta if it keeps its unity and fronts the tourism message aggressively, may likely help Nigeria out of the woods through tourism and one hopes the government will truly partner with Nanta to make the change we all desired at the birth of this administration.

It is however disappointing to note the visible absence of Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation and Lagos State Governor who would have used the opportunity of that august prestigious gathering to share the dream of government on Kaduna airport and the new tourism drive in Lagos.

Indeed, I submit that Sirika is merely chasing shadows with Kaduna airport and Ambode, probably pushing tourism for political reasons as both have failed to carry Nanta and the private sector key players along. It is sad that our governments and leaders pay lip service to tourism and even with an evident tourism barometer which indicate that the future lies in building and encouraging travel and tourism, they (government) still flung about obsolete tourism ideas.

Nanta once again has proven that it does not need any government funding and never sought any and beyond all reasonable explainable, is challenging the federal and state governments to wake up from slumber for the tourism time is here. However, will the attitude of government change? Please read through what notable Nigerians said at the Nanta tourism confab.

Alhaji Muneer Bankole – The making of a Tourism Baron

The Managing Director of the only viable private airline in Nigeria, Alhaji Muneer Bankole is silently making revolutionary changes in the sector. As a major key speaker at the Nanta event, Alhaji Muneer not only dwelt on how Nigeria could make social and economic changes through aggressive promotion of our local festivals, he practically and confidently points the way to the future. From a modest travel agent to now a big player in aviation (airline), the Medview boss has toed the lines of Richard Branson of Virgin airline into the octopus tourism resort business. He is building a refreshing resort in Ibeju – Lekki and as all can see to the future, you buy your ticket and travel to Medview airline and with needed rest facilities at the yet to be named Medview resort. In this entire progressive new run, Alhaji Muneer wants Nanta and other industry end marketers on board. Where is government?

Harold Demuren – Govt must stamp out the kidnapping culture

The former NCAA boss was also very practical in his presentation and says for tourism to thrive, government must wake up from sleep and make Nigeria safe again. He notes the sad upsurge on kidnapping and herdsmen killings across Nigeria which does not augur well for promoting Nigeria, and therefore called for systematic and strategic clean up of the Nigeria security space which would fast-track and jump start tourism and related businesses.

Paul Adalikwu – Govt will do the Needful

He is the new man on the block at NTDC and represented the Minister of Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. Adalikwu by attending the Nanta event possibly shows government (NTDC) may work with the private sector. He is dreaming big and wish Nanta come around to join the train to help identify what is marketable and what is practicable. In so doing, the government wants reinvented professional travel trade operators and it is so willing to help up the benchmark.

Chika Balogun – Tourism must be Proudly Nigerian

Chika Balogun, the NIHOTOUR boss was very open and subtly very engaging. Though withdrawn from public space in recent times, the delectable lady at the government tourism school wants Nanta members and industry players to break new grounds. “There are no pains without gains” says Balogun who wants to see a new “Israelites” in tourism practitioners, taking risks and breaking new grounds in all areas. “As much as your strength can carry you”, Chika Balogun noted and prayed for the culture of love Nigeria products and notes that tourism is the solution and not the problem.

The Nanta Musketeers

Bernard Bankole, Nanta boss and face of new generation of Nanta has never failed to recognize and appreciate those who gave birth to Nanta and sacrificed for its growth. At its 41st AGM in Lagos, Bankole pulled another fast one on history of Nanta by bringing to light, the works of leaders such as Femi Adefowope, Tunde Akala and Elder Jerry Nwosu. These three Nanta giants played key roles in the formative years of the association and in our next report, we shall avail your their pains and victory for Nanta from my research and close relationship with Nanta over the years and with the awardees.