WAKE-UP CALL: Nigeria’s Tourism Industry on the Brink of Transformation
Nigeria’s peculiar nature of resisting both good and bad governance with equal fervor is a significant obstacle to progress. The country’s tendency to thrive in chaos and overburden community structures is a major concern.
Whenever leaders introduce well-meaning policies, Nigerians often sabotage them through backdoor agitations, undermining developmental strides. The truth is, Nigerians are neither good followers nor good leaders.
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) is set to regulate and certify industry players and institutions, sparking controversy. Established to bridge knowledge gaps in tourism, hospitality, and travel trade, NIHOTOUR has struggled to fulfill its mandate due to poor funding and institutional corruption.
Some sectors have weaponized emotional blackmail and misinformation to downplay the importance of regulation, exposing a lack of strategic thinking.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy has sent a clear message: prepare for regulation and standardization.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed off visa processing firms for violating consumer rights, but faced harassment and denial of access.
When government agencies introduce policies, the right response is engagement, collaboration, and implementation. Running to court at the slightest discomfort is not the solution.
The NIHOTOUR Regulatory Act has been around since 2022, giving industry players ample time to prepare. Instead, some have chosen litigation and manipulation of public sympathy.
The proliferation of countless associations and groups in the cultural tourism space is a concern that requires a sustainable regulatory framework. It’s time to rise, engage, and contribute to the growth of the sector and the country.
The NIHOTOUR regulatory framework is here, and it’s up to industry players to prepare and work with the government to establish a sustainable regulatory legacy.
Key Points to be put into consideration by all and sundry are:
– NIHOTOUR Regulatory Act has been in place since 2022
– Industry players have been given ample time to prepare
– Regulation is necessary for sanity and growth in the sector
– Collaboration and engagement are key to success
– A sustainable regulatory framework will make doing business in Nigeria’s cultural, hospitality, and tourism sectors easier and more rewarding.
