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23 November 2013 at 18:05
Nigeria High Commission - NTDC Collaborate on Faster Visa Issuance to Boost Domestic Tourism
' Barely 100 days in office as the new Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs Sally Mbanefo has sought a top-notched collaboration between her Corporation– under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Nigeria High Commissions abroad to accelerate the processing time for issuance of tourists visa as a means of developing local content of the tourism industry.
Lashley Oladigbolu takes a look at the outpouring success stories of NTDC in the WTM 2013 event:
As part of the Federal government collaborated efforts at boosting domestic tourism activities of NTDC, a new visa arrangement reflecting on re-branded Nigeria will seeks to provide, among others a more easier and quicker issuance of visas for tourists coming to visit the country. This was disclosed by the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Tafida Dalhatu while unveiling new slogan ‘Fascinating Nigeria’ at the just concluded World Travel Market in London
...Collaboration to ensure quick and efficient tourists visa
According to the High Commissioner, the visa processing time has been reviewed and made easier for issuance to the tourists coming to Nigeria. The High Commission’s latest arrangement with the Online Integrated Solutions is to expedite hitch free travel from the UK to Nigeria indicates that tourists can be issued visa within a 24 -hours.
Mrs Sally Mbanefo, the Director General of NTDC who had earlier on at the World Travel Market event signed Memoranda of Understanding among Ministers of Culture and Tourism for Ghana, Gambia and Malawi, said that the stage has been set to improve on the drive towards boosting domestic tourism in Nigeria. On the domestic tourism initiatives Mrs Mbanefo explained that at least three States within each zones in the country have been identified as focal centre points and a tourism centre will be built in each of the six zones. Mbanefo emphasized that the core of her administration remains a comprehensive development of Nigeria’s local tourism attractions hence the need for the tourism centres across the geopolitical zones. She highlighted that state governments will be involved to facilitate the accessibility of touristic destinations across Nigeria.
At a press conference held at the Nigeria’s stand, Mrs Sally Mbanefo described her first experience of the NTDC in the 2013 WTM event, as a wake-up call for Nigerians and those in diasporas as an opportunity to showcase all the tourism aspects that Nigeria have.
UK based Nigerians at the WTM 2013
While acknowledging the support of the Nigerians in diasporas at the WTM 2013 event, especially from the media practitioners, the NTDC boss said ‘’Our effective participation in foreign tourism events are important but the focus is more on developing and promoting all aspects of domestic tourism so as to generate more revenue for the country and create job for thousands of youths in line with Mr. President’s agenda. Nigeria is about 160 million people and there is no way only NTDC staffs can do the job of promoting tourism alone , we need everybody to be involved in this crusade so that we will all enjoy the dividends when it begin to yield’. NTDC staff showcasing attractive items at Nigeria's standAccording to Mrs Sally Mbanefo, the new DG, NTDC ‘We have very successful tourism aspects already today in Nigeria; We have business tourism people come to Nigeria because of one business or the other like oil, they do businesses and go but nobody thinks of pleasure. With the development of our domestic tourism, successful business tourists will have to stay a bit longer and enjoy other things Nigeria has to offer apart from businesses. We have religion tourism which is very much a success. These are what we want to share: Our rich cultural heritage and very dynamic and fascinating festivals. We have Abuja Carnival coming up soon, Cross River Carnival and many other carnivals taking place all around the country, authentic and big events that are very unique to Nigeria.’’
Cross section of Nigeria and the officials at the WTM 2013
‘We have very beautiful weather and above all, Nigerians are welcoming, warm, friendly and hospitable. We welcome foreigners, Nigerians and Africans in diasporas to Nigeria to come to Nigeria. We want Nigerians as well to make use of their domestic tourism aspects. Every Nigerians in Diaspora are ambassadors of this call. That is why, in my less than 90 days in office we have entered into working partnerships to focus on domestic tourism.'’
Mrs. Nbanefo also further disclosed her plans to tour all the major tourism sites in each region of the country. I have received invitations from some state tourism boards and I have met some of the tourism commissioners in various states too with the intention of encouraging them to develop the sites that are yet to be developed in their respective states and promote it for increase revenue and employment drive.Speaking on why the NTDC has began partnering some private organizations in promotion of tourism in the country, Mrs Mbanefo maintained that the essence is to get value for Nigeria tourism.
Domestic Tourisms ? How it will benefits all...
Mrs Mbanefo’s brilliant performance in NTDC has been notably a huge success in affecting a new vision for the Corporation, especially in the area of domestic tourism. Based on her 26 years experience in the private sector she has been injecting pro-active strides to bear in delivering excellent results in the various functional areas of the corporation. Mrs Sally Mbanefo, has entered into working relationship with the Nigerian tourism and travel operators, corporate banks as well as extending such synergy to a re-new participation of local investors and foreigners in the evolving Nigerian tourism potentials.
She has signed MOU with Arik, Visa and a few transporters.Hon Minister for Culture, Tourism and Orientation on familiarity with exhibitors at WTM 2013.
- Mr Oladimeji Adisa, the Publisher of the ' Come to Nigeria' Hon Minister on familiarity with exhibitors at WTM 2013 applauded Mr Oladimeji Adisa, the Publisher of the ' Come to Nigeria'
Visa as a global finance firm is partnered in a long term to print picturesque of most Nigerian tourism attractions on their customers cards, some subsidies on the fees at tourism sites for users of such cards among other incentives agreed by the Visa.Some private transport companies have been partnered to facilitate the use of travel hubs on tourism across Nigeria while other private stakeholders have signifies their interest in offering qualitative services at affordable rate to both local and foreign tourists.
Mrs Sally Mbanefo also promised to visit Nigeria embassies in foreign countries to speak with the ambassadors on the need to make visa procurement fast and easy for tourist who want to come and visit sites in Nigeria. A meeting to be scheduled with Nigerians in diaspora will also be announced in due course.
Dr Tafida Dalhatu, Nigerian High Commissioner was seen unveiling 'Fascinating Nigeria' at World Travel Market at Excel, London
Who is Mrs Sally Mbanefo ?
Mrs Sally Mbanefor, an avid artist and painter is a 1986 Law graduate from the University of Lagos who has gained a 26 years corporate professional experience in Banking, Manufacturing, and Oil & Gas sectors, with a stint in private and social entrepreneurial practice.In 1987, she began her career as a pioneer staff in the Treasury department of Abacus Merchant Bank Limited (one of the first indigenous banks in Nigeria) and subsequently in 1989 joined International Merchant Bank Limited (former First National Bank of Chicago).Mbanefo managed two public offers for the bank that later became IMB Plc and today FCMB Plc. She actively led three restructuring exercises for the bank and propelled its conversion from merchant to commercial banking whilst managing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other regulatory authorities.She is a member of the Society for Corporate Governance, Nigeria, a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD), a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, and Past Director American Business Council.Mrs Sally Mbanefo came into the system less than hundred days ago with passion and clear vision that will make tourism a culture that is planted in the minds of every Nigerians not only as a direct participant but also a promoter of tourism in the land, with this if well implemented, she is definitely going to leave NTDC with a legacy and have her record written as a lady who leaves behind an indelible mark in the history of tourism in Nigeria.It is challenging that domestic tourism is not at its best yet in Nigeria when compared to other countries that are equally blessed with the wonders of nature, which is apparently the reason why the new NTDC boss has decided to make, developing and promoting domestic tourism her utmost priority. By this, Nigerians will not only have a feeling and enjoy what they have through direct participation but also use tourism sector as an economic booster and a good source of employment generation.
Written by Lashley Oladigbolu,
London
