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).
Posted By: Okorie uguru
