Tourism: The plaudits, the thumb-downs

Though, we are not in the habit of doing a general check list of the ups and downs in the sector due to our weekly clinical overview of the industry, we however believe that a thorough insider look at the sector, the players, the politics and the body language of government at federal and state levels, would probably help us address critical issues affecting industry and proffer solution(s) therein.

President Buhari and his broken tourism promise

In my weekly tourism column in the SUN Newspapers, I had made no pretense or “chewed” any word about the disappointing tourism promises of President Buhari government in the past one year. Indeed, it was a failed tourism promise all the way. August, last year in one of his “high” profile media chat with journalists, President Buhari had promised that tourism would become one of the major and critical economic platform to create more jobs and stem the tide of unemployment.

That promise ended up as a mere front page “entertainment” news on most tourism pages across various newspapers and online publications. In December, 2015 at the announcement of new ministries, the tourism sector portfolio went missing from the list of Ministries. It was not hard to conclude that a “Critical and major” sector without any platform bearing is as good as not vintage enough to drive the PMB change policy. In sum, it was a failed promise and as you would find out through this report, Mr. Integrity in the last one year had shown no faith in the tourism sector.

Nigeria as a figure without definition

In global tourism business, serious nations desirous of making impact with their tourism would use every opportunity and meetings to showcase and invite visitors to their country. It is a tourism diplomacy profile that has added up the gains for private sector players such as tour operators, convention planners and hospitality inventors to exploit. Since PMB came to office, his various foreign travels and attendance of high profile diplomatic conventions and state visits, hardly mainstream Nigeria’s tourism profile as Africa’s best destination for business and recreations.

The bang at such global encounters has always dwelt on corruption free Nigeria without any messages suggestive of a destination blessed with abundant natural resources, creative workforce and hospitable people. A corruption free nation without a corresponding brand benefit as a place to pick gold on the street, rest and rejoice at the beauty of nature serves as a sore thumb for tourism growth impact in Africa’s biggest black nation. Hospitality is never left to imagination; it is expressed and can be felt.

When Information is not driving Tourism

In general portfolio placement for tourism development, most thought through economic efforts or blue prints, depending on other critical engagements in national development, has seen the dynamism in tourism oxygenated by transportation, environment and history/culture. Commerce and trade also drive tourism in a clime where this aspect of human development forms the major fulcrum of national economic expansion. Indeed, the multiplier effect of all human endevours helps create an octopus tourism sector, down streaming into many imaginative human creative socio economic end results.

In Nigeria, we seem to have experimented with Tourism / culture at Obasanjo’s call in 1999 down to 2015. It is now information, culture and Tourism? Before the democratic outing Sixteen years ago, the trend with the military government was Commerce and Tourism. Indeed, it was Babaginda government that first dubbed the tourism sector, a “Preferred” sector. However, under PMB Change government, Information becomes the chief driver but its impact is yet to be strategically felt. How do I mean? Promotion and marketing of a product or a nation requires huge bed of information flow, what is where, how to get there, who offers what, at what price, distance, health facilities, Immigration, Customs and even tourism policing of dark spots. Explaining and promoting gestures, culture, culinary mapping of the nation and moving from one location to another, the clustering of tourism endowments and including platforms at railways points, sea, air and ground transportation becomes and forms the apparatus and architecture of tourism growth.

But what do we have or seen with our ministry? An information Ministry that drives a populist and reaction baseline for government push against perceived enemies, that labours hard to justify certain failings instead of a bridge of re orientation to values in Unity, community living and dedicated contribution to the survival of all – Nigeria.

The blame game baseline of the Ministry of Information to which tourism unfortunately found itself or was compelled or “packaged” to belong, is a big minus to any expectation of an early arrival to Nigeria’s tourism destination.

NTDC and the death of tourism

The notable rot in Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and other related sister agencies under Ministry of Tourism and Culture did not start with APC, or even Minister Lia Mohammed. However, what we found shocking is the delay to sweep away the “rat and cockroaches” eating away our tourism products. While the Minister came hard, sweeping away the heads of parastatals in the Information segment, those in the Culture and Tourism are left to rot more in “a hellish” wait game, which seems to foster “smart” corruption and waste of scare funds to feed failures masquerading as “Destroyer Generals” (DG’s). Indeed, failure to get rid of the pack of hounds has left the industry in a dangerous bend and directionless. A truly change government with a sweeping mentality drive would have done away with the colourless leaders in CEBAAC, Museums and Monuments, the Gallery of Arts, Arts Council, National Theater and octopus notorious NTDC. For me, the exception to this expected storm cleansing and sweeping gale is Chika Balogun of NIHOTOURS. Just under one year in office, she has shown drive and vision without any controversy tailing her humble efforts.

365 Days of Aborted Dancing and Drumming Dreams

Honestly, if talking, dreaming and wish(ing) for tourism change truly counts, then Lai Mohammed has done well. Those who waited for the minister’s new Nigeria of a dancing and drumming nation must be sad at the near absence or manifestation of such dreams from our man from Kwara. Maybe if he had consulted the traditional rulers, they would have helped transform the country into a noisy nation without a baseline of any expected gain but merely as propaganda tool. Even the partnership with Ogun State for a drumming festival died on carnival. I did wonder recently how the minister who suddenly transformed from Agbada (native wears) to suit jackets and bow tie, would dance to bata drumming at Abeokuta, venue of the Drum festival. Till today, am yet hear or read, the jobs that were created, variety of Nigeria drums that were sold, one new cultural value chain that was unveiled, so much for our drumming and dancing dreams. Thank God, the minister listened to us and went back to his famous Agbada/Sokoto. It is an achievement.

Sure-P Tourism Fund: The long wait for a day in court

It is no longer news that while the politicians were helping themselves with funds from Central Bank of Nigeria, the tourism ministry and key players in the sector got feverishly busy with sharing the loot from Sure-P Funds allocated to drive tourism. Indeed the first alleged looter ever “Paraded” on “NTA” and later left to go, was a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism. It was so bad that two Abuja based lawyers approached the Courts, to request the documents relating to how the funds grew wings. EFCC which initially took up the matter seemed to have lost steam to parade the looters in court. The question, is corruption no longer corruption no matter who was involved? I am surprised our new minister has kept quite over the issue and even when individuals close to the deal offered to help clean up the mess, he appeared too busy with government “Information” mandate. In fact, a former key player who fell out with the Oga’s then at the top in the ministry over this Sure-P fund, told me he contacted and sent test messages to Alhaji Lai Mohammed to offer help in sweeping out the hidden and “Embellished”  millions of Naira but was ignored. So much expectation from tourism but nothing to show for it in one year.

The governors and their failed tourism promises

Governor of Bauchi State; Alhaji (Barrister) Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar was full of tourism talks year ago. From Yankari (Green Tourism) to hospitality sector transformation, the Bauchi governor promised new dawn for the once famous Yankari National Park now a Safari park. That was May last year and as we speak (write) nothing has happened and Abubakar has no tourism story to tell about his Bauchi State.

Prof Ayade of Cross River State

Cross River Governor, (Prof) Ben Ayade is probably the only governor in Nigeria with a tourism portfolio added to the leadership of his people. He appeared to mean business but again the traffic to cross river will drop with the state now becoming kidnappers’ haven and prostitution on a drive off the handle. Ayade’s green police to police the environment, particularly the forest ecosystem rich – state is exemplary, plus the light rail from mountain Obudu ranch, a new coastal resort to be built across the Marina fort, the Convention centre, the super Highway from the South to the North of the state, all promises of a new tourism Cross-River under Ayade. It is however sad that we all need to wait for only the month of December to see the best of Cross River and the unfortunate rise of kidnapping in one of Nigeria most peaceful state.

Ambode and Lagos Tourism

I drove to Abeokuta last week and saw street lights on the busy Agege-Ota-Abeokuta expressway. Also noticed construction work on that busy road, particularly at the Abule Egba axis and wonder what this man from Epe is up to. Though, there is so much “tourism” in Lagos, the snag is the lack of proper articulation and branding that could flow with the trend and give it an edge. There is a noticeable “miss” on the marketing and promotion mix of Lagos tourism. How do we sell Lagos differently from the past effort if any and identifying those who need to come to Lagos and spend their money resting, playing and discovering new things. As it stands, Lagos has no tourism soul and the body is so fragmented. Governor Ambode must stop and search for the right team to bring out and Coordinate all development efforts into a huge revenue balance sheet until then, Lagos is just merely “Eko for show. 

Tourism Associates As Humpty-Dumpty

The tourism industry associations really used to be a place to belong before now. Recall the old good days of Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN). The Amachrees, Oresijo’s, Jemi-Ladi– Alade, Tarzan Balogun, Madam bentu of Jos and John Best.

The late tourism Diva, Matthew Ebaboje Da’Silva, Kingsley Onuoha, these people and many others led the troop and it was really good to belong, not to forget the backing of notable dedicated government tourism officials such as the likes of Dr. Mubo Eniola (Chairman of South West Government / Private Sector coalition on tourism), Late Miss Igbene, Malam Zuru and Bade Aderelegbe. These were government tourism technocrats but with hearts for private sector development. Indeed, they are pro-private sector tourism development which encouraged the growth of associations. Tereza Ezobi gave National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents (Nanta) the push into tourism. She encouraged travel agents to see beyond selling tickets of airlines and do more investment with tour operation. Ezobi, was all over the place, Kano, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Abeokuta, name it anywhere, she sang the tourism song and Nanta AGM apart from that ATPN, became a must attend by not only industry players and investors, but also federal and states governments fell over themselves to part – sponsor most tourism association meetings. That was long ago, a dream to remember but like all dream(s) which men fail to work on, the industry associations across board are now a shadow of the once great and memorable past.

No wonder, government even before the advent of APC change experiment were no longer accountable. Industry leadership is now peopled by “strange faces” with strange portfolios. Indeed, all the associations are now struggling and would no longer match the pedigree and dedication of the founding fathers.

Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN)

It is a premature child from the womb of ATPN. FTAN came to create a supposed better hold for all after what appeared as a monopolistic hold of Mike Amechree on the affairs of ATPN. FTAN however lost the vision when it was hijacked by money bags who tried to create an elitist association as against tourism federate body that cuts across the haves and the have nots. From the era of Goddy Ibru, Munzali Dantata, Edem Duke, Samuel Alabi and lately Tommy Akingbogun, FTAN systematically distanced itself from same group it pretends to protect and represent. Matter of fact, these leaders represented themselves and used the vintage position of this umbrella body to power their desire and personal ambitions. The truth of the matter is that FTAN is like a doughnut, big but empty inside.

ATPN: Unknown to many people the Amachree led ATPN gave birth to what is known as Abuja carnival. Amachree, Jimi Alade and Samuel Orisajo gave a good account of what it takes to grow and veritable industry body but lost it on account of poor succession person. The run-away recognition given to ATPN by both federal and states governments became a lure and lust to which Amachree executive could not give up and ATPN came crashing down across the nation. Its demise was also largely due to the admittance of operators with questionable investment background who want to reap where they did not sow. ATPN and not FTAN still legally remains the only registered umbrella body for all associations in Nigeria. In recent times, there seems to be noticeable efforts by Kabiru malan to revive the association and restore the lost glory.

NATOP: The National Association of Nigeria Tour Operators (NATOP) is basically a Fatima Garbati response to give tour operators a hold on the business. She worked hard but was unable to attract most travel agents who also double as tour operators. Indeed, the failing of NATOP to rise to the billing over the years is a proof that Nigeria has more of Travel Trade Operators than real Tour Operators. Those probably ground standing today are mere “internet creation” and may crumble anytime soon. Jimi Alade Tours and Remlords group, stands out and have all the experiences to go the long way. Nkerewem Onung, President NATOP has kept the group going but there are still many buts to its future survival and visibility to respond to critical government policy decisions that impact negatively on inbound tourism and Marketing of Nigeria as a destination. NATOP’S failure to make that statement remains its albatross.

Association of Tourism Boat Operators and Water Transporters (ATBOWATON). Essentially set up to encourage water tourism and boating, surfing and beach recreation. This Ganiyu Tarzan Balogun led body has made appreciable in roads into attracting Nigerians to the water transportation and beach recreation. Its modest achievement include various state chapters across most Littoral States in Nigeria and a regular local chapters meetings and contributions to the growth of water transport Policies at Federal and state levels.

However, like other sub-sector bodies, it still hangs its hope and direction on a leadership begging for a new direction.

ANJET: Association of Nigerian Tourism and Travel writers is a bunch contradiction that has done more to the growth of tourism in Nigeria than to the welfare of its members. Ego trips and bastardization of global norms and ethics of the profession had seen the noble achievement of the body nose-dive. The Association can be likened to a super hero who helps others but sees nothing good in encouraging himself to excel and hold authorities to accountability. Even though it was built and founded on faulty and shaky foundation, Anjet still remains the true bridge builder in the sector.

Verdict: A big nation, wonderful and hospitable people, yet very undecided about how to benefit from the tourism economy. Will the President and the APC do so imaginative thinking about tourism in the next four years? We watch and pray as time will tell.