…VC Akanwa tasks on addressing challenges, due to reported $4.1 billion annual global generation from Tourism

At the 76th Inaugural Lecture of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), on Wednesday, the presenter, Dr Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ngoka, a Professor of Hospitality and Tourism in the university, stated that Nigeria was richly blessed with tourism potentials that should be harnessed for national good.

In his lecture titled “Uneven Steps to Tourism Development in Nigeria: Optimizing the Vast Potentials of the Sector for Sustainable National Development,” he stated that if well harnessed, these tourism potentials would become one of the major drivers of Nigeria’s economic growth, environmental protection, cultural and religious preservation, recreation and leisure.

“Nigeria is endowed with abundant natural, cultural and historical attractions which, if properly harnessed, could generate revenue, create jobs and attract investment”, he stated.

Tasking the federal government on ” Strategic Investment and Security to Unlock Nigeria’s Tourism Wealth” he noted the extant inadequate tourism infrastructure, insufficient funding, insecurity, multiple taxation, weak international marketing and low public awareness, as some of major challenges to the sector.

Professor Ngoka consequently recommended to the Federal Government, the provision of competitive tourism infrastructure, strengthened security architecture that would guarantee safety of tourists and investments, improved funding, creating an enabling tax environment and intensifying international marketing of Nigeria’s tourism destinations to attract local and foreign investors, including maximizing contribution to national prosperity.

According to him, tourism is a sensitive and fragile industry that depends heavily on visitors’ safety and confidence, stressing that even the slightest fear or perceived threat could discourage tourists from visiting a destination.

The MOUAU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ursula Ngozi Akanwa who presided over the session and described the lecture topic as timely, apt and significant, corroborated that tourism deserves critical national attention because of ” its capacity to promote enterprise development, generate employment, showcase cultural diversity and drive economic diversification”.

She ( VC Akanwa) who argued that hence reportedly, tourism generates about $4.1 billion dollars annually globally , and underscored this it’s huge economic value, urged that government and critical stakeholders should address the challenges to its growth in Nigeria.