AHTES 2024 Promotes Nigeria As Prime Tourism Destination

By Maria Diamond

Lagos State recently made significant progress in promoting Nigeria as a prime tourism destination through the African Hospitality and Tourism Education Summit Nigeria 2024 (AHTES). Delegates from around the world visited the city to experience its rich cultural and historical attractions firsthand.

Delegates toured notable sites such as the Nike Arts Gallery and the National Museum. These visits were part of the EDU-Tour initiative aimed at showcasing Nigeria’s unique cultural heritage.

The event was championed by Chimezie Mike, a top 100 Nigeria Tourism Personalities award winner and the founder of Tourism Afrikania. The summit, themed “Catalysing Growth: Empowering Business Solutions through Hospitality and Tourism Education in Africa,” aimed to promote hospitality and tourism education across Africa, focusing on driving economic growth through academic research and industry education.

Chimezie emphasised that the summit enhances the quality and reach of hospitality and tourism education in Africa by connecting students and industry enthusiasts with top schools and organisations. It offers career development opportunities by mentoring students and entrepreneurs, fostering connections that can lead to successful careers and business ventures. The event also brings together key players in the industry, fostering innovation and nurturing the next generation of professionals in hospitality and tourism.

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However, Chimezie highlighted several challenges that Nigerian tourism faces, including inadequate infrastructure, security concerns, insufficient promotion, and lack of investment. He pointed out bureaucratic hurdles, environmental and cultural degradation, and skill gaps as additional barriers to growth.

To address these issues, Chimezie suggested several solutions:

• Government and private sector collaboration to improve transportation, accommodation, and other essential infrastructure.
• Investing in security to ensure safety for both locals and international tourists.
• Implement comprehensive campaigns to promote Nigeria’s tourist attractions.
• Simplify visa procedures and introduce e-visa systems to make it easier for international tourists to visit.
• Initiatives to protect and maintain natural and cultural sites so they remain attractive to tourists.
• Establish and support institutions focused on hospitality and tourism education.
• Encourage collaboration between the government and private sector to fund and manage tourism projects.
• Engage local communities in tourism development to ensure sustainable practices and shared benefits.
• Implement policies that create a conducive environment for tourism growth, including tax breaks, grants, and other incentives.
• Leverage technology to improve services and enhance the tourist experience.
• Develop a strong national brand that highlights Nigeria’s unique cultural, historical, and natural assets.