NTDC ROLL OUT PLANS FOR DOMESTIC TOURISM , TARGETS OVER 500,000 JOBS IN 3 YEARS

by Remi Oladoye

Minister of Culture , Torusim and National Orientition, Chief Edem Duke, Mr Andrew Alli, Chairman of African Finance Coorporation and  Mrs Sally Mbanefo, during the Stakeholder forum organized by NTDC at Civic Centre Victoria Island Lagos on Monday

The need to fully utilize the tourism potentials deposited in Nigeria as a means of economic
development and employment generation was the major issues discussed   by stakeholders in the tourism sector in Nigeria  who all gathered in Lagos   to chart a new course for the sector,
especially developing domestic destination as well as creating an enabling
 environment that will sustain the development.

  The stakeholders forum with the title  “ Rebuilding the  NTDC and Growing the Tourism Value chain for Revenue  Generations and Job creation “  which was held at Civic center Victoria Island Lagos  was organized  by the Nigeria Tourism Development Commission
 under the leadership of  Mrs Sally Mbanefo  and  was attended by key personalities  in the industry who contributed to the ways through which the government agenda on tourism can be implemented  and sustained  for  economic advancement and growth of the nation.

Apart from the government officials and Director General of other agencies in the tourism sector, the functions witnessed  large turnout  of stakeholders which includes, the Hoteliers,  transporters, private investors, state commissioners for tourism, Nollywood actors and actresses, fashion designers, media travel agencies , and airline operators  among others were well represented and contributed to the stakeholders meeting.

Mrs  Sally Mbanefo in her speech said that,  “ the  NTDC  under her leadership will do all her best to ensure  the success of the policy of President Good luck Ebele Jonathan Administration in  re-energizing Nigeria’s tourism  brand  campaign, fascinating Nigeria- as a  strategic policy thrust to diversify the economic away from a mono-product economy, that is majorly oil earning, create Job, and full Economic growth through Tourism drive”. 

Speaking further, She said,  “ we at NTDC as implementers  of  Nigeria’s tourism policy have our marching order. We have a charge to translate government policy into programms and project that better serve stakeholders in the tourism value change, especially Nigerian citizen”.

 She also highlighted  the role stakeholders are expected to play for effectiveness  and successful implementations of the agenda set by the government and NTDC in order  to rebuild  the sector. She said, “ we  at NTDC  has our Job cut out for us, we cannot achieve
 anything without the support of all the  stakeholders  at home and abroad”. Adding that we will engage frequently with each stakeholder group to clarify  or revive our perception  of your issues and expectations on an ongoing basis through forum like this.  

 She explained further that “Given  the desired objectives of
 the Federal government  to make  the  tourism industry, and indeed the NTDC, a source of revenue generation and jobs creation, we cannot afford to continue treating these issues  and expectations in a casual manner ; this would sub- optimize  resources, time, and talent for every stakeholders in a value chain and weaken synergy between tourism development initiatives with other governmental  programmes covering infrastructure, job, financial inclusion and National security."

NTDC boss, Sally Mbanefo Signing  MoU with Rep of Heritage Bank

  While rolling out her plans for the tourism sector in Nigeria, the ex banker popularly called the White Witch said that her cardinal focus is  to fully engage all the stakeholders in  the development of   the sector, promotion of domestic tourism, engage Nigerians in diasporas, and collaboration with state  ministry of tourism, and other sister
agencies, transporters, creative industries, Hollywood, manufacturer,   media, hoteliers,  finance institutions and other relevant bodies  in achieving  the agenda.

Speaking on  what domestic tourism will bring  for Nigeria , Mrs  Mbanefo said “ the domestic tourism market  has a very high revenue and Job creation potentials, if we assume  that a low estimate of 20 million out of 160 million Nigeria travel locally for business, leisure, culture, religion, or sport annually and they spend only 10% of Nigeria per capita income of $2000  annually, we will have a $4 Billion dollars domestic tourism market and
hence  our focus at the NTDC on developing domestic tourism as the foundation  for
attracting international tourist”  

Briefing the gathering on the way forward,  Mrs Mbanefo  said the  situation requires   a threefold  strategy and they are : Rebuilding the NTDC, Growing the tourism value chain and  re inventing  the Nigeria Tourism Industry. She added that, “ these strategic imperatives are not mere statements of intent; we are moving forward and have therefore translated them into implementable vision of programms and projects for the benefits of all stakeholders”.  She stressed that,

"Among the  focus of the strategic imperatives is to advocate  partnership and alliances with  various organization which includes  consummated collaboration  with Central Bank of Nigeria  on statistic for Boards on a cost of sharing basis, began collaboration process with Nigeria Immigration services and border survey, visiting media organization, financial institutions and prospective investors , Ministries and other relevant bodies  to further enhance  harmonious relationship with all the stakeholders  along the value chain".

She explained  further that the second strategic plan which is  Growing the   tourism value chain  for revenue  and jobs creation will bring about the establishment of  tourism service  desks at major airports and hotels as well as major tourism centres in  the 6 geo political zones. These centres  are to provide tourist  with  adequate information’s  about sites and advantages of the destinations for tourists.

Tourism value chain alliance will establish the market drive alliances program that will bring  together all operators across the tourism  value chain using customized technology to create a network of partners brand that run promotional and loyalty network through the brand among others  functions which is expected to create over 150 000  jobs opportunities for Nigerians .

 Other agenda in the section includes  Green city Project , which is designed to deliver the green city initiatives as a differentiating platform for Nigeria’s eco-tourism credentials. According to her, the Green city project which will be cited in Abuja will feature bio-fuel refinery for conversion of waste to wealth, demonstrations farms, Botanical gardens, Hotels,
Housing  Estate, Sport facilities  industrial parks, solar farms,  water parks and Health malls.

It is expected to create  about 20, 000 jobs in 2 years  as well as bolster Nigeria as a preferred destination for the growing eco tourism market.

 Apart  from the Green city project which will be located in Abuja,  the DG  also has in her plan to establish  Nation-wide travel hubs which according to her  will create a network of land and inland water-way travel.  These hubs will redefine  the concept of land and water
ways travel, jetties and motor parks in Nigeria. Each travel hubs will have  departure and arrival hall and conveniences, retail spaces  for local food and art and craft, trailer parks and warehouse form cargo, car park and washing bay, open market stalls, 2 star hotels/ Events hall/square, renewable Energy power system, fuel station with additional dispensation for  dispensing  bio-fuels from green city project and security  infrastructure. Some of this features are available at Hassan Olajokun Memorial Park constructed by Governor Aregbesola  of the State of Osun  and  New Ilesha garage  constructed by Governor  Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State
 along Ondo road in Akure .

NTDC BOSS  Recieving MoU from Arik Air representative

 The Nation-wide travel hubs which will be in two phases , 109 senatorial district and 774 local government is expected to make available over 400, 000 jobs  within 3 years. She declared, “ the value tourism chain  are designed to create over 400, 000 jobs and
grow the  revenue base of  the latent  domestic market from $4 Billion dollars  to $12B within a decade.

The third phase of the plan which is reinventing  Nigeria’s tourism industry  programmes include the Tithe  revenue  growth programms which consist of an  interconnected network of sequential  projects designed to make tourism industry commercially  viable in the short, medium and long term by creating  linkages across the tourism value chain through a tourism cloud service. She disclosed that they are working  on the establishment of Tourism 

Development fund, and access to cheaper finance designed to  finance and train local communities expected to participate in the network of franchises to be operated by SME’s as a result of both travel hub and green city projects.

 While concluding her analysis, the DG said. “ our strategy begins and ends with Nigerian citizens and you can therefore understand our focus on  domestic  tourism  as the cornerstone for building   a sustainable  tourism industry that will attract  foreign tourists and  investors. “We  are  not wedded to our idea and are therefore open to ideas that works better for Nigerians.”

  She tasked the financial institution,  media, Nollywood creative art industry and other sectors on the need to  support her vision in  accordance with the policy of the Federal Government in bringing up tourism development as a major source of employment
 and revenue generation saying. She said, “ i want to passionately appeal to Nigerians   who understandably has become sceptical about  any attempt  at making things work better, we need  you to understand  that we are privilege to be in public service to serve you and make things better.”

“Always have it in mind that it is  easier to be  critical than to correct. Please give Nigerian a second chance. Please help us to keep your environment clean, do not  cut trees indiscriminately , demand your rights  at every service  point including  ours but always remember  your obligations not to violate  the right of others irrespective of your differences and continue being  warm to visitors , local or foreign  as all our cultures and faith advocate that.”
 In conclusion,she said that, “ we know you have waited too long for things to get better, channel your agitations into creative  and constructive criticisms of how we can make the nation betters for the next  generation. You will readily agree with me that we can only call this brand Fascinating Nigeria  mainly because  of Fascinating Nigerians you find in every village, town, city and in all part of our nations"

 Earlier in his key note address, the Minister of  Tourism, Culture and  National orientation   Chief Edem Duke  said the Federal Government  remains committed to diversifying the economy away  from the volatility of the crude oil earnings  to more sustainable sources of revenues and community based jobs which Nigeria tourist potentials across  all the 36 states of the Federation provide.

 He said further that , “as the supervising Ministry for Tourism  in Nigeria, we understand the crucial role of the NTDC along  with other parasatals under the Ministry  in  translating our objectives into actionable programmes and projects. We therefore  have started  transformation of the NTDC into a more effective regulator with significant commercial footprints”

 Chief Edem Duke also  said that “ in line with policy of this administration  of providing  an enabling environment for the private sector to be the engine of economic growth and job creation, we encourage private investors to partners with the NTDC as it unveils its programme and projects. “You  have full assurance of our Ministry’s support in fast tracking  bankable public- private partnership projects. We also in this vein  appeal to all our development partners  to support the NTDC and its partners with moderately priced and long term capital required to develop infrastructure urgently needed  by operators across tourism value chain.”

 The chairman of the occasion, Mr Andrew Alli,the President of African Finance Corporation, said   the tourism development in Nigeria is at lowest ebb and needs to be upgraded and taking to a greater height .

 Mr Alli noted that his bank finances infrastructures but assured the gathering in making available  funds for  infrastructural development  thatwill aid the growth of tourism in Nigeria.
 Mr Alli who spoke on  financing  tourism infrastructure  for sustainable  growth said tourism development is crucial to the growth of Nigeria as a country at this moment.He commended Mrs Mbanefo for the initiatives and  pledge the bank support for the development of tourism in the country

  The Trinidad and Tobago Ambassador in Nigeria Mr  Onwika speaking at the occasion said, "Nigeria should also be more open to the foreign  tourist  by working on  effective modalities that will hasten  securing  visa when coming to Nigeria and connecting direct flight into the country for tourism and business activities".

 He said this will enhance  cultural exchange between the two countries and facilitate business relations among them.
"A lot of people from southern American and the Carribean are interested in participating in cultural festivals  and businesses, they want to connect with their source, but securing Visa and connecting flight is the major problem", he added.

 Also the  president of EFTAN,  Mr. Yomi  Akingbogun in his address  urged the NTDC and the federal government  to  consider the multiple taxation  being imposed on the private sector as one of the factor that is hindering the growth of tourism sector in Nigeria. He  said, “the private sector is not encouraged by the government’s inability  to make available  basic amenities and infrastructures. This affects our operations"

  Mr Ben Bruce of Silver
>Board Television who spoke on the role of the media, advocated on the need for  keeping the media practitioners informed about the programmes of the NTDC, updating them  and  assured the Corporation that the  Nigerian Media will not  relent in their support for  developmental projects that will enhances development in the country.
 Other key speakers at the meeting includes , State Commissioners of Culture and Tourism,  DG of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Operators of Travelling Agencies in
the country. 

 Highlight of the programme includes, signing of  Memorandum of Understanding between the NTDC and some partners which  are, Heritage  Bank , Arik Airline, ABC transport, Visa, Reddington  hospitals, and others. 

Fashion parades and traditional display from cultural dancers were not in short supply as the stakeholders were entertained.