Perspectives from UNWTO conference on tourism devt

Nigeria has been challenged to explore the numerous tourism potential that abound in the country.
ELEOJO IDACHABA examines the dynamics as a fall out of the resolution of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference for Africa which the country hosted recently.
Over the years, stakeholders in the tourism sector had always pointed out that the sector holds the key for Nigeria’s future, considering the vast arrays of tourism destinations and cultural heritages that abound in the country.
Unfortunately, not much has been done to translate this into a reality.
Therefore, when the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s conference for Africa was billed to be hosted by Nigeria recently, it provided opportunities for frank discussions on the need for true diversification of the economy.
Major take-homes At the conference, experts identified tourism as a vehicle for aggressive national development.
Premised on the theme, “Tourism Statistics as Catalyst for Development,” it was agreed by participants that the industry has the natural propensity for aggressive national development irrespective of the contributions of other sectors to the country’s economy.
In particular, the conference reaffirmed commitment towards producing an appropriate and reliable data that adhere to certain fundamental principles of official statistics, notably, the use of international concepts, classifications and methods in order to promote a consistent and efficient statistical system at all levels in the country.
The 61st edition of the conference held between June 4 and 6, 2018, had in attendance 26 ministers of tourism, representatives of international tourism administrations and other related sectors who opined that statistical evaluation, which is an integral part of tourism, is crucial for the sustainable development of the sector.
While declaring the conference open, President Muhammadu Buhari noted the nexus between tourism and sustainable development, saying that Nigeria would not be left behind towards ensuring that communities and businesses benefit from tourism development.
The president who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said “Nigeria looks forward to a resolution that will translate the tourism blueprint of the country into national development.” On his part, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, whose ministry supervises the sector, said: “For Nigeria, this is a unique opportunity.
In addition to the socio-economic gains, the event will put Nigeria and the nation’s tourism industry in particular on the world map, attract foreign research experts and promote the necessary network that will form the basis for future cooperation.
Nigeria will also get a rare opportunity to showcase itself to the world, its tourist attractions, its rich culture as well as its music and films which have become the toast of the world.” According to UNWTO, “tourism has been increasingly recognised for its potentials to contribute towards the reduction of poverty through its geographical expansion and labourintensive nature which support a spread of employment and can be particularly relevant in remote and rural areas where many of the poor live.” Speaking at the end of the last conference, the UNTWO secretarygeneral, Zurab Pololikashvili, said: “We had very interesting discussion with ministers and we made very concrete decisions on how to continue and how to work with African continent which has full support from our organisation and we are very glad that we are going in the right way.
We have an ambitious plan.
We want to promote Africa as one of the main and most important tourism destination in the world.
We can do it in Nigeria, we can create, convert, Nigeria to the main tourist destinations in Africa.
There is a huge potential here.
Culture, food, nature, you have everything here.” With this mindset, analysts say it is now left for Nigerian government to draw a comprehensive road map towards revitalising the sector.
According to him, tourism is the future of Nigeria because the country has a lot of tourism potentials to show the world as the continental tourism hub.
“There are broad impacts of tourism for the benefits of societies and its people.
It has a huge potential to generate lasting development opportunities in Africa and Nigeria in particular.” Alhaji Rabo Kareem, president, Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria, said: “The conference was an opportunity, not only for image laundering for Nigeria, but also to showcase the country as a leader in African culture.
Our cultural heritages are our main assets and attractions and the performances during the event portrayed her as a country with a robust culture.” Speaking on the sideline of the conference, Lai Mohammed said, “Nigeria has been treated as a very special member of UNTWO and that has earned us two special invitations to Madrid, Spain, its headquarters to discuss matters pertaining, particularly to tourism development in Nigeria.” Infrastructure decay, bane to tourism development – Experts Tourism experts, however, say the country’s tourism sector is still at formative stage not withstanding various attempts made to give it official recognition in the past.
This is borne out of the sorry state of infrastructure in many states of the federation especially tourism sites.
This reason cannot make Nigeria the envy of other nations when compared to countries like Singapore, Spain, South Africa and Gambia which already have an advance tourism industry.
Speaking during a tourism investors forum and exhibition in 2014, the former director general of Nigeria Tourism Development Commission (NTDC), Sally Mbanefo, admitted that the sector is a tool for national development.
According to her, there are several international initiatives that have highlighted the potential of tourism to contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction as well as environmental protection, cultural preservation and jobs creation.
UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible for the development of global tourism comprising 158 members, six associate members and over 500 affiliate members representing the private sector and educational institutions.