In the year 2000, a group of tourism enthusiasts under the aegis of the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) took a “faith visit” to Calabar, the Cross River State capital. They were led by the then President of NATOP, Mrs. Fatimah Garbati. The idea was to look at tourism prospects in Cross River State and possibly advise the government of the state, which had shown enthusiasm, to go the way of tourism, how to go about.
It was a visit that changed the fortune of tourism in Nigeria and the process midwifed what has become Nigeria’s first tourism destination. It was from the meeting of NATOP operators and the then first lady of Cross River, Mrs. Onari Duke, that the annual “Africa Biggest Street Party”, Calabar Carnival, came to fruition. Other tourism projects equally followed.
On Thursday, February 11, at the banquet hall of the Transcorp Hotel, Calabar, a happy Mrs. Garbati, casting her mind back to the teething stage of Destination Cross River, exclaimed: “ We never knew it was going to be as big as this.” Calabar has become the annual holiday destination for many Nigerian and foreigners and they come to participate in the 16 km-dance train call Carnival Calabar.
The city itself has taken the hue of a tourist destination. From the Marina leisure complex, historical sites like the walls of the colonial prison, the National Museum complex, the Millennium Park, the old Calabar areas like the Duke town, the city has become the tourism capital of Nigeria. Even during the low season, the non-festival period, the streets are kept spotless. The traffic is nothing to be worried about. The food culture is alive kicking.
It was because of this that NATOP returned 16 years after to the city they helped transform. It was for the annual general meeting with the theme, “Nigerian Tourism: The missing link in the diversified economy”.
Prof. Utomi (middle) and some participants at the NATOP AGM
Speaking on the topic, renowned economist, Professor Pat Utomi, went down memory to bemoan how the country’s over reliance on oil has destroyed Nigeria’s economic growth. He insisted that it was a blessing that the global price of oil has fallen as it makes the country think of alternatives.
NATOP President Nkereuwem Onung said holding the association’s AGM in Calabar was like home coming for them.
He said: “ Nigeria is the biggest suppliers of tourists in the continent of Africa. Even though we have more of outbound tourists, that is how it is supposed to be. We have different classes of tour operators, the outbound and in-bound. Like you will agree, even though tourism has suffered a setback in the continent last year, we have a shrink of three per cent in terms of arrivals, as against a four per cent increase of the previous year.
“What we are saying is that despite the setback, NCAA still told us that Nigerians spent about 1.5 billion dollars on airline tickets last year. That makes us a veritable partner in the industry. We have always been at the forefront of tourism, no matter how you look at it. So, the AGM this year is to give our tour operators a new direction.
“That new direction is that we know most of you are marketing other destinations, but we need to also bring people to Nigeria which is a core mandate of the association . Beyond regulating the way tour operators behave in terms of fair practices and all of that, we also need to market Nigeria as a destination.
“We went to look at what happened in Calabar in the year 2000 when NATOP, with the Cross River State government kick-started what is today Destination Cross River. NATOP members were in the forefront of doing that. We also want to make everybody understand that if we did that with Cross River, we can do that with any other state that is willing to partner us.
“Outside partnering Cross River State to give birth to destination that is creating impact, you will agree that NATOP was part of the Seven Wonders of Nigeria. I think that what we did was that we did our best to say look, we have qualified destinations in Nigeria that is worth marketing.
“We have, as a body, participated in the World Travel Market in 2012, the first by private operators other than NTDC staff . In 2012, Otunba Segun Runsewe accorded us that privilege whereby we had tour operators in their number manning the Nigeria stand, asking questions and networking. All these, among others, were what we tried to do.”
Among those present on the occasion was the Director-General of the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mrs. Dayo Keshi. In a paper she presented, she harped on the need to sell Nigerian tourism using culture.
This, she said, informed her presence at the event since it was the tour operators that would package tourists to cultural events in the country. She used the opportunity to unfold the pet project agency.
She said: “The dwindling oil price and its attendant effect on the Nigerian economy has again brought to the fore the imperatives and urgency to revisit and commit ourselves to the diversification of the national economy.
“Today, there is a lot about government’s commitment and determination to develop the solid mineral sector, but very little is being said about the creative industry. Yet, this is an industry with enormous potential to contribute significantly to the diversification of the Nigeria’s economy by creating employment and generating wealth, especially among the rural population.
“This is why our discussion here this is very important as those of us in the industry must help create the awareness and knowledge that is required to place the creative industry on the same pedestal like oil, solid mineral and agriculture.
“This is necessary because we need to change the perception and the way culture is viewed, especially by policymakers and encourage them to see and appreciate culture of which the creative industry is part of an economic prism. Like any other economic sector, it needs support, it needs investment, it needs infrastructure and above all, it needs the conducive environment to grow and develop. That is the crux of my paper today.
“Allow me speak first, of the National Council for Arts and Culture, our mandate, what we do and our plans for the future especially as it concerns tourism. The National Council for Arts and Culture was created in 1975 as a front-line agency of the now Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.
“It has the responsibility for the overall co-ordination, development and promotion of the living arts and culture in Nigeria. As part of its core mandate, NCAC is saddled with the responsibility to foster the development, appreciation and promotion of literary, visual and performing arts and culture. It is also expected to identify, develop and promote the country’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
“Furthermore, NCAC is expected to create skills acquisition Centers, vocational centers and crafts clusters including, packaging and promotion of festivals all towards developing Nigeria’s Creative Industries.
“Over the last forty years, The National Council for Arts and Culture has continued to leverage on Nigeria’s arts and crafts to serve as veritable resource for promoting national unity and integration as well as a catalyst for job and wealth creation. This, it has achieved through its programs and activities especially with its flagship programs, the annual National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) involving all the States of the federation and the FCT.
“The African Arts and Crafts Expo (AFAC) involves other African countries. Last year about fifteen African countries participated in the 4th edition and our aim is to scale up the expo both in participation and in content to attract increased participation from the continent. Our objective is to eventually make it a continental affair that will gain global recognition. If we succeed, l have no doubt that Nigeria will become the Mecca of arts and crafts practitioners with attendant benefit for our artists.”
Indeed l should inform this August gathering that NCAC has a very ambitious plan to introduce more specialized festivals between now and 2017.
These are: The National Durbar Festival; the National Boat Regatta Festivals; the National Masquerade Festival; the Festival of Nigeria Contemporary Arts; the National Folk Songs Festival and traditional textiles and fashion fair.
“The rational for these are obvious or should be clear. First, it is in fulfilment of the core mandate of NCAC, which is the coordination, development and promotion of the living arts and culture of Nigeria. Secondly, festivals are today recognized as one of the fastest growing form of tourism and a number of countries continue to effectively utilize their festivals to attract tourists to their countries.
“This is so because, cultural festivals are basic ingredients that animate and promote tourism. Culturally, festivals enrich cultural experiences and develop support and audiences for culture. They engage with many arts forms, including discovering new ones, styles and genres and help to promote the cultural and creative industries.
“Its social impact includes intangible things that cannot be quantified financially or with economic impact while preserving the heritage and strengthening local values and traditions as well as local community pride. It promotes cultural diversity and community cohesion. Besides, It has potential to create jobs, generate wealth and revenue and promote tourism. It increases knowledge of the country, state or region and possibilities for investment. It drives the construction of new facilities and improves on local infrastructure.”
The tour operators elected new executives to pilot the affairs of the body. They are: “President – Nkereuwem Onung (Remlords Tours); Vice President -, Muyiwa Salami ( Dvine Tour Brokers); General Secretary, Ime Udo (Leadway Tours); Treasurer , Bolaji Mustapha (Get Centre). Ex- officio members are Ikechi Uko (Akwaaba/ATQ Tours); Fatima Garbati(Speed Tours), Abiodun Sanni (Tourways International); Chinyere Umuasiegbu (Globallinks Travels) and Ladi Jemi – Alade (Jemi Alade Tours).
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