April, 2014
Tourism-Travel-Leisure News Undiluted
Vol.3 Issue 21, April 2014
ISSN: 2276-8319
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$4.00, N500.00
Jordan Turns To Nigeria For Religious Tourists By Lucky Onoriode George [Who was in Jordan]
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bdul Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director, Jordan Tourism Board has disclosed that his country is working hard to ease visa processing for Nigerians, as his country intends marketing their religious sites to them. He said his agency is working hard to minimise the waiting time for visa processing from 30 days to 15 days. Razzaq Arabiyat added “we are working on getting visa on arrival for Nigerians, as the Jordanian government has realised the importance of the Nigerian market.” According to him, “Jordan is blessed with historical, cultural and religious sites”. Addressing selected Nigerian journalists, who were in Jordan on ‘Fam Trip’, Razzaq Arabiyat noted, “before now, Jordan has been marketing the cultural and historical sites in the country, but we are now changing strategy as we have decided
Tourists at Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wadi Musa, Jordan
Despite Detractors, I Will Remain Focused – Mbanefo
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By Our Correspondent
ally UwechueMbanefo, Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation [NTDC], has said that she would remain focused despite all distractions in the course of executing her job. This is coming on the heels of many one sided stone throwing and sensational report on NTDC by one or two soft sell magazines and blogs, which delved into issues of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation [NTDC] , the apex tourism body in Nigeria, and refus-
al to participate in the 2014 International Travel Fair [FITUR] in Madrid, Spain and its decision not to also exhibit at the just concluded 2014 ITB Berlin Travel Fair in Berlin, Germany respectively, even though they attended and marketed Nigeria from stand to stand, with great success, saving the Corporation over N30 million by not building a stand according to an insider. The above issue has generated so much debate, and unfortunately, not many of the journalists, who wrote on the withdrawals of the NTDC got their facts right. It is a known fact that as at January 30, 2014 and March
5, 2014 respectively, the NTDC did not received a dime from the federal government following the budget impasse between the executive and legislature, and did not receive most of its capital for such trade fairs. As an astute banker, Mbanefo refused to go the way of her predecessor, who was used to borrowing from expensive sources to participate in previous international fairs, which incidentally have never yielded much result. According to sources close to the Corporation, the uncontrolled borrowing habit of the former director general of the NTDC has also left whopping debts in excess of hundreds of millions for the new NTDC
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boss to deal with. African Travel Times Magazine sources disclosed further that contracts were awarded without documentation, which was one of the reason the current boss of the agency refused to borrow more money, and cut the coat of NTDC to its size by making decisions backed fully by her Board of Directors with whom, she has agreed that NTDC will only exhibit and build stands if and only an international trip is within the budget released; and if there is any mileage to be gained for NTDC. Besides her financial prudence, she also came into office campaigning as an ad- Sally Mbanefo, Director General , Nigevocate of domestic tourism, rian Tourism Development Corporation [NTDC]
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April, 2014
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April, 2014
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Publisher’s
Note Lucky Onoriode George
Open Letter To Imoke:
Cross River Tourism Vision
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here is no doubt that whatever is today tourism industry in Cross River State was built on the image and potential of the pristine and tranquil of Obudu Ranch, now Obudu Mountain Resort. To many of us and those working in the travel and tourism industry, Cross River State is the standard with which success in the sector is measured. Unfortunately, when the best is not good enough, there is nothing, but catastrophe. With TINAPA dream capitulating before our very eyes and the subsequent take-over by the federal government, what is left in the hands of Cross River is Obudu. I had made personal efforts to speak with His Excellency, Governor. Liyel Imoke, even when he made promises of granting special interview, he never fulfilled any. It is either his numerous assistants that are supposed to finalise the interview do not want it or the governor himself does not want someone very knowledgeable about tourism to interview him. Fortunately, I have the knife and the yam and I have decided to cut it my way by writing openly to him. Your Excellency sir, the first question that I would asked you if I am privileged to sit face to face with you would have been, why did you decide to allow Obudu Ranch [Obudu Mountain Resort] and Utanga Safari Lodge to die gradually? If your answer is that
you have not allowed them to die, I would ask you, why not put them into full utilisation? Since your tenure sir, Obudu and Utanga have been left in ‘harm’s-way’ and constantly in coma, I see myself as a family member of the tourism industry in your beautiful and peaceful state, that I have even chosen Cross River State as my home, instead of Delta State where the leadership tried to replicate what your state has attempted, by default and lies. Like the popular axiom that pictures speak clearer than words, Obudu Mountain Resort, just like TINAPA is slowly dying. The once talked about world class facilities are gradually fallen apart, and what was formerly the talk of town, is now joke of the town. Your Excellency sir, if you may recall, during a media chat in Calabar, I once warned you that if you do not do the necessary by ensuring effective and efficient marketing of Obudu and TINAPA tourism assets, to generate enough funds for turn-around maintenance of these facilities before they become wasted vision, that your state will become a laughing stock. Today, those careless words I used then are manifesting. My once beloved Obudu of few years ago is an eye sore now. Since 2001 the remodeled and expanded facilities were fully commissioned, facilities such as electricity is still a mirage. In this modern world, power is still being rationed and trans-
portation to the ranch/resort is still a hindrance to its success over the years. Apart from the transportation problem and the high cost of getting to the resort, poor marketing has also been the bane of its success. Currently managed by a Zimbabwe Hotel management company, African Sun, it’s not entirely clear as to whose responsibility it is to market the facilities since it took over almost seven years ago. Whilst government officials confirmed that it was part of the contractual agreement for African Sun to do all effective marketing from revenue generated, sources close to African Sun also argued that despite their initial intention, the state government never provided some of the materials and fund agreed upon to enable them function very well. As someone that has followed carefully the industry for over 15 years, both the government and African Sun are guilty of extreme neglect of their major responsibility, which is marketing the ranch to attract visitors for revenue to be generated in the first place for the business sustainability. However, many practitioners are of the opinion that there is no way the management of the hotel alone will sell the resort in isolation and that, it is the responsibility of the state’s institution such as the Cross River State Tourism Bureau, and its appointed tour agents to sell the state as a package.
Just like his predecessor, Imoke through his actions…by starting the construction of the Calabar International Conference Centre, want to be remembered for as his own legacy. However, Your Excellency, is it wise enough for you to turn a blind eye to both TINAPA and Obudu to suffer under your regime? Apart from Carnival Calabar and Obudu Mountain race, which your Excellency also inherited from former Governor Donald Duke, I as a student of marketing and public relations have questioned the viability of the race. If you had abandoned the Mountain Race, some of us will clap and applaud you. No matter what Cross River is dreaming to be, it can only in the foreseeable future attract moderate conferences and seminars. The moderate success, which has been achieved in the past, is gradually being eroded. The hundreds of people that turn up for Carnival Calabar annually, are the set of people that can easily be planned for to enable them make return visits. Finally sir, I still need to be educated and I hereby request for a one-onone interview with you, because I want to learn from you and to fully understand this untested tourism development model that is playing out in Cross River State. Next month, you can read the Uduaghan Tourism adventure in my home state of Delta. It is a must read, keep a date.
NIHOTOUR Food Fair Holds Next Month Page 5
ABC Transport Acquires More 80 Trucks For Haulage Page 6 Editorial Advisory Board Chief Sam Alabi Ogho Okiti [Phd] Jude Nneji Ini Akpabio Mubo Eniola [Phd] Wanle Akinboboye Kunle Adewale Rex Yakpogoro. Babalola Wasiu Adeyemo [Phd]
Publisher/Editor Lucky Onoriode George Winner, European Commission Lorenzo Natali Prize for Journalists Reporting Development, Human Rights and Democracy
Researchers Richard Debrah, Ike Uchechukwu, Adebukola Adewusi Graphics
Ebenezer Olawale ebeteye@gmail.com
Contributing Editors
Kola Raji, Kirk Leigh, Bayo Adesina, Emeka Umejie
AFRICAN TRAVEL TIMES is a publication of
Tourism Today Communications Office 40 Mike Akhigbe Way, Jabi Federal Capital Territory [FCT], Abuja Contact: P. O. Box 6250, Festac Town, Lagos. Tel: +234-8033546608, 08057984769
E-mails: info@ africantraveltimes.com editor@ africantraveltimes.com Websites: www.africantraveltimes.com
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April 2014
which her predecessor was never interested in. While the new director general is trying to settle down and focus on the repositioning and re-organizing of the battered tourism corporation she inherited, the former boss of the corporation, whose success stories only existed on the pages of newspapers and on television screen; is still daily fingered as the masquerade behind some personal and internet blackmail, in an attempt to extort money from the corporation that he wrecked before being kicked out of office. An insider told African Travel Times that the former NTDC boss, who’s sacking was caught unawares is on the attack to discredit the corporation, because she refused to succumb to pressure over monies he claimed he spent without documentation from his pocket while in office. Shockingly, the former director general was also alleged to have almost successfully manipulated the controversial Lagos office of the Corporation, which he tried to secretly buy in collusion with the landlord, a close personal friend of his and resell to NTDC at double the price a few years ago. On discovery of this by the supervising minister at the time, Prince Kayode Adetokunbo ordered the funds to be returned to the government. The former Director General, Runsewe never paid the Lagos office rent for 2013 to 2014 before he was sacked in May 2013. Capitalising on a new “Oyibo” as the new director general is fondly called, the landlord inflated the cost of the rent to N11.5million thinking she would be forced to pay the rent if they blackmail her with fabricated negative press articles; unfortunately never worked. At a point, this same man, who never respected the board of the corporation during his time in office, tried unsuccessfully to also manipulate some board members to prevail on Mbanefo to pay him the sum of N50 million, for which he had no documentation, but
... I Will Remain Focused – Mbanefo
they stood firm and backed the NTDC boss not to pay out such questionable monies without proper verification and documentation. Sources within, disclosed that the new NTDC boss will not spend tax payers’ monies for expensive foreign exhibitions, when her main focus was on domestic tourism which will elicits local travels as well as attracting international visitors. To date, Mbanefo is still paying staff that were taken en masse on trips and never paid their allowances by the former director general. She is confronted with unpaid bills for stands purportedly constructed by the former director general; by his creditors anytime the corporation is abroad. The participation of the tourism corporation at any given international travel exhibition cost is according to African Travel Times investigation is around; “putting up a booth or pavilion without the private sector plus the cost of tickets, lodging and estacode allowances at such events stands well over N40 million, and paying such monies when basic materials needed to run the office on a day to day basis were unavailable is unjustifiable”, our source revealled When contacted, Sally Mbanefo, Director General of the NTDC said, “We decided to go to Berlin eventually because of the several seminars and presentations of new trends and developments that run simultaneously with the exhibition part of the event, truly, that’s exactly what travel exhibition is all about”. She’s however of the opinion that the Nigerian private sector is very sophisticated and a pride to Nigeria, they should be showcasing Nigeria to the outside world on a much larger platform,” Mbanefo was quoted to have
Jordan Turns To Nigeria For Religious Tourists
strategy as we have decided operators, as part of their marketon marketing religious tour- ing strategy, noting that the direct flight of Royal Jordanian Airways ism.” He noted that the Vatican has approved four places in the country as pilgrim sites, “two millennia ago, the area opposite Jericho have been identified as the place where Jesus Christ was baptised by John the Baptist, making it one of the focal Christian pilgrim sites.” Razzaq Arabiyat added that the area known as Bethany beyond Jordan has been discovered between the Jordan River and St. Elijah’s hill. He said they are working on having 15,000 religious leaders around the world to see how pilgrimage can start from Jordan as approved by the Vatican. The Jordan Tourism Board disclosed that they will soon be having a road show in Nigeria for tour
to Lagos will boost tourism. Razzaq Arabiyat also noted that about 3.8 million tourists visit the country with most of them from the Gulf countries, Europe and South Africa “but we are coming to Nigeria for tourists as one of the emerging markets in Africa.” He explained that the Jordanian government has invested so much in tourism in recent years, saying “tourism is our oil here in Jordan.” According to a publication in the Jordan Times, travel and tourism sector accounts for 12 per cent of Jordan’s Gross Domestic Product [GDP] in 2012. The trip was facilitated by Royal Jordanian Airlines, a member of OneWorld Alliance.
told her staff. She, upon assumption of office in May 2013 was confronted with various operational issues, which required immediate attention in order to set the stage for advancement of the corporation. Consequently, Mbanefo immediately swung into action and commenced efforts at addressing identified issues, which have already started yielding positive outcomes.
zonal offices were in comatose. There was no Tenders board, no Procurement board, no exco, neither were returns being made to regulatory authorities like Fiscal Responsibility, Federal Character Commission and the National Assembly; series of queries had to be answered by the new DG for activities going back to 3 years before she resumed.
State of Affairs Due to the poor staff morale she met on ground, the director general began constant dialogue with them, and discovered deep rooted issues like, the fact that there was no conditions of service for staff, very low salary structure compared with their peers and complaints of hijack of ‘schedules of duty’ by some influential staff under former DG, and no corporate governance at all. Others were, infrastructure challenges regarding epileptic electricity – there was no generator, or transformer, lack of work supporting amenities and equipment, no cars to work with while
Organizational Actions Taken So Far Team Building The Corporation began regular departmental briefings and town hall meetings with all staff, a platform that has provided opportunity for extensive assessments through meetings and interactions with staff and stakeholders. Corporate Governance Instituted To create checks and balances, she initiated inclusive budgeting process, established executive committee, set up Tenders board, and set up a procurement planning com-
mittee, all which never existed before. Revenue Drive To boost revenue generation, she created revenue generation committee and transformation steering committee, to work with a revenue and management consultant to advice on revenue and transformation drive. She initiated monthly ‘raise and praise awards’ for high performing staff, and set up a new logistics and project development unit to source sponsors and partner for the corporation’s projects. She did not stop at that, as she procured a transformer to ensure 18 to 20 hours of light daily for the office. Remodeled the office building through the private sector, to reflect the patriotic colors and a decent work environment for staff; changed bush cloth curtains to professional blinds; got the private sector to provide buses for staff welfare and worked very closely with the union. Continued on page 16
L-R:Ngozi Ngoka, National Pub. Sec., National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies [NANTA] , Sally Mbanefo, Director General , Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation [NTDC] and Alhaji Aminu Agoha, President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies [NANTA], during the 38th Annual General Meeting recently held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja.
April 2014
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Tourism,
Backbone Of Ghana’s Economy
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ourism is a strong pillar of the Ghanaian economy. In 2012, it recorded 993,600 international tourist arrivals with corresponding receipts of 1.7 billion USD. The industry provided employment for 359,000 people in the country. Seen as a strong contributor to the economy, the government is strengthening the industry to enable it [tourism industry] play its role in the overall development of the country. It was for this reason that the government increased the GH¢ 2million budget to GH¢ 3 million allocation to the Creative industry, underscoring government’s recognition of the potentials of the Industry in accelerating Ghana’s economic growth. In 2013, the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Seth Terkper indicated that government would facilitate the development of cultural villages and enclaves as a critical appendage to tourism which is fast gaining economic relevance as a source of revenue generation and employment creation. This year, the industry is focusing on revamping all the tourist and natural resource centres to help raise funds to support the country’s economic development. As parts of efforts to strengthen the industry and put much value on the Ghanaian creative industry, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts launched a Domestic Tourism Promotion Project dubbed: “Explore Ghana,” in Accra. The project seeks to encourage Ghanaians to visit the country’s attractive tourism sites through vigorous promotion and showcasing of aspects of the cultural heritage and creative arts products and services. In a key note address, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare said the project was aimed at inculcating travel habit while mainstreaming tourism as a major activity among Ghanaians. According to her, the project, which is a joint collaboration with the Graphic Communications Group, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and Voltic mineral water, and other stakeholders, was geared towards promoting Ghana’s cultural heritage and its creative arts products and services. “Statistics on domestic tourism indicates that interregional movements are currently taking place within the country as educational and social clubs continues to organise group tours from their institutions to other parts of the country,” she stated. Adjare disclosed that the Ministry with collaborations from the other ministries, municipal and district assemblies as well as other stakeholders were making tourist sites very accessible
Egusi Soup With Fresh Fish & Vegetables
NIHOTOUR Food Fair Holds Next Month T he National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism [NIHOTOUR] is organising an international food fair, scheduled to hold from May 6-10, 2014 at the Eagle Square in Abuja. Christened, ‘Nigerian Food and Cultural Fair’, the event is a baby of the management of the institute, aimed at bringing together experts and food enthusiasts from across the country; just as it’s expected and designed to promote Nigerian cuisines. It is also an addition to the calendar travel and tourism programmes in the country. Dr. Munzali Dantata, director general of NIHOTOUR, who made this known recently, noted that though the institute has exhibited in the past in Beijing, Abuja, Lagos, Dubai and London; however, this year’s fair is special because of Nigeria’s centenary celebration, which the institute is using to trace Nigeria’s food and cuisines his-
Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, Ghana Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.
to all, citing the reconstruction of the Fulfuso-Damongo road in the Northern Region into a first
tory since 1914. According to him, “In 1914, Nigeria’s population was 17 million people, at Independence, it was 55million and in 2014, it’s estimated at 170 million people,” he pontificated. “Am sure and convinced that the eating habit of the North that is known and associated with tuwo masara/shinkafa, has expanded; the Igbo and their traditional onugbo soup has expanded, the Yorubas’ gbegiri and ewedu have long been expanded to include so many other delicacies, just as the Niger Delta axis that is also known for their banga soup and edikankong,” he added. Dantata said Nigerian meals can be internationalised, just like the Chinese, Thai, Japanese, India, among others that have all become household names globally. The fair will also create a platform, through which many industries can effectively promote their brands in a relaxed
class asphaltic surface road to make the travel to Mole National Park an enjoyable one. To enhance domestic tourism, the Minister noted that the Ghana Tourism Authority was currently reviving the public Holidays Recreational Programmes in all the ten regions in the country, emphasizing that this year was declared by her ministry as a tourism year with emphasis on domestic tourism. Adjare expressed the hope that travel within the country would aid in the creation of income earning opportunities for residents of rural communities and alleviate poverty through the sale of arts and craft material, provision
and receptive atmosphere. “Nigerian Food and Cultural Fair’ is not just about food and drinks, but a total lifestyle, therefore, creating the platform for the effective promotion of a wide range of products,” Dantata noted. Nigerian Food and Cultural Fair is an event, where visitors will be able to sample dishes from the finest Nigerian cooks and chefs; unique and flavourful local delicacies, interact with prolific celebrity and experience world-renowned luxury brands right here in Abuja. With many exhibitors expected from many industry that are associated with makers of cooking, beverage, storage facilities in attendance, there won’t be a dull moment at the Nigerian Food and Cultural Fair. In addition to exciting restaurant and lifestyle exhibitors, the festival will be bursting with activities to keep the crowd entertained with live music,
of hospitality services and tour guiding services among others. Roland Affail-Monney, Director of Radio, GBC, noted that the tourism industry demonstrated its role as a vital tool in the advancement of economies through direct domestic and foreign exchange earnings and through the employment and investment opportunities it generates. He pledged GBC’s support to the industry to find innovative ways of stimulating domestic tourism. A former Chief of Staff, Henry Martey Newman said the industry should be redesigned to make it more attractive and valuable to Ghanaians as it was the hub of
where live cooking demonstrations will be showcased. Visitors will also learn how to prepare their favourite Nigerian cuisines and learn more about Nigeria’s food history. The 4-day event is expected to receive over 100,000 visitors. “They would be mainly well-travelled young professionals and families, who are food, drink, art and lifestyle enthusiasts. “We also expect a high turnout of the expatriates and diplomatic communities respectively,” Dantata revealed. Established in 1988 by a tripartite agreement between the Nigerian Government, the United Nations Development Programme [UNDP] and the International Labour Organisation [ILO] in 1987, NIHOTOUR has since its inception trained well over 5,000 skilled and craft trainees, servicing the various sectors of the Nigeria’s Travel, Tourism and Hospitality industry. the country’s economic development. Newman said ideas must not just be left unattended to rather, there must be operationalized so as to contribute to the growth of the industry and the economic development as whole. To demonstrate the relevance of domestic tourism, the Ministry took participants around various sites in the Capital city. This was aimed at paving way for domestic tourism to begin and for Ghanaians to appreciate and value what they have as a country.
6 April 2014
NCPC Boss Recieves The Outstanding Public Servant Of The Year Award – 2013
T ABC Transport Acquires More 80 Trucks For Haulage
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BC Hauls has acquired eighty [80] Shacman heavy-duty trucks, thereby increasing its haulage business by an additional 3,200 tons capacity. ABC Hauls is the haulage division of ABC Transport, Nigeria’s most innovative coach operator. Expansion of ABC Hauls began in earnest between late 2013 and mid-January of 2014, with an investment of over one billion naira on trucks, human and material resources. The increase in capacity and investment were a direct result of the new and renewed contracts between ABC Transport and certain major manufacturers in the industry. Consequently, ABC Hauls has diversified from transporting only cement products [bagged and unbagged] to accommodating other structures of the economy. Doubtless, ABC Hauls is set to becoming a total logistics organization, and will now convey fast moving consumer goods. Its partnership with DHL (the world’s leading logistics company) will see ABC Hauls participating in the distribution of the products of UNILEVER West Africa across Nigeria. Another strategic partnership with Procter and Gamble [P &G], a multinational consumer goods company, will also see ABC Hauls distributing hygiene and healthcare products along west coast corridor of Africa. With demand for increased capacity in the haul-
age business nationwide, ABC Hauls is completely poised to satisfy the rising demands of high-profile clients. ABC Hauls’s choice of Shacman truck was due to the auto-maker’s success in many difficult terrains such as Algeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Russia, and Iran. Shacman is a leading Chinese truck maker. Meanwhile, ABC Hauls has acquired three [3] hectares of land in Calabar, Cross River state. The land will serve as a truck park, maintenance depot, and transit accommodation for the driving crew. In order to further provide seamless haulage transportation across the breadth of Nigeria, ABC Hauls has installed online tracking software for its numerous trucks as well as speed limiters. Presently, hundreds of staff are being recruited to fill up the
openings arising from the expansions in the haulage business, while a productivity and safety enhancement training has been scheduled for truck drivers and attendants in Calabar and Ewekoro respectively, within March 2014. ABC Hauls is a leading haulage operator for United Cement Company of Nigeria [UniCem] and for Lafarge-WAPCO, another notable cement manufacturing company. ABC Hauls also provides haulage transportation for noncement manufacturing companies such as Nestle Waters, GZ Industries, and Beta Glass. ABC Hauls is operated by ABC Transport, the only road transport company currently quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange.
he Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission [NCPC], Mr. John Kennedy Opara has been honoured with the Outstanding Public Servant of the Year Award – 2013 as well as the U.S Congressional Commendation Award. The award being conferred on the NCPC boss under the auspices of the African Public Service Forum and Awards by the African Leadership Magazine formally bestowed on him on the 9th April, 2014 at St Regis, Washington DC, USA. In a letter of award earlier presented to the No. 1 Pilgrim Officer of the Federation, stated that “your choice for this prestigious honour is based on your efforts in uniting religious Leaders and the Christian community in Nigeria to remain peaceful and prayerful in the face of increasing assault on the faith by insurgent in the North-Eastern part of the country as well as your unrivalled contribution to public safety and religious tolerance in Nigeria”. The statement also added: “the Board in its approval, note and maintain that your leadership
has witnessed increased peaceful pilgrimage activities, which culminated in the successful outing of the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan leading one of the delegations of faithful in the 2013 pilgrimage to Jerusalem- a first in the history, largely, adjudged as a spiritual turning point in the fortunes of the country”. The statement further stated that “you have also been nominated for and be presented with the U.S CONGRESSIONAL COMMENDATION AWARD by the Leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus of the United States Georgia General Assembly during this event”. Indeed, this honour on the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), is a well-deserved one. His numerous achievements in enhancing the visibility of Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria is unprecedented. Mr. Opara has succeeded in making Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria a Tool for Moral and Spiritual Transformation. Therefore, this international recognition is timely and encouraging. If for anything else, it will spur him to do more for his country.
....Begins Sprinter Service From Lekki-Owerri/Port Harcourt
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BC Transport has introduced Sprinter Service on the Lekki [Lagos] – Owerri and Port Harcourt routes. Essentially designed for passengers who like to travel light, with little or no luggage, ABC Sprinter will run as a direct, daily passenger service from Lekki to Owerri and Port Harcourt. The service, which is set to kick off on March 12, 2014, will operate the following departure schedules: Lekki to Owerri and Port Harcourt by 7.15a.m., while Port Harcourt to Lekki is
7.15a.m. and Owerri to Lekki is 8.30a.m. ABC Lekki office is situated at Shop A13, Elegushi Shopping Centre, opposite Jakande 1st Gate, beside International Women Society Centre, Km 15, Lekki-Epe expressway, Lagos. 08035077983, 07042226222. ABC Sprinter parade compatible midi buses, which are fully air-conditioned, roomy, and comfortable. This midi intercity service is designed to provide light travellers with enough legroom and comfort on long distance trips, as well as on-board refreshments. Thus, keeping in line
with ABC Transport’s safety policy, only three persons are allowed to sit on a row. As a matter of fact, this is aimed at encouraging convenience while in transit. ABC Sprinter Service is also available on Lagos, Calabar, Jos, Abuja, Umuahia, Aba routes. Just recently, over 400 ABC Transport drivers and attendants participated in a productivity and safety enhancement workshop in Calabar, Owerri, Lagos and Ewekoro [Ogun State]. The month-long training was to bolster the driving crew ahead of the challenges arising from the ongoing ex-
pansions in ABC Hauls (following the acquisition of eighty [80] Shacman heavyduty trucks) and in ABC Cargo Express (which is set to take delivery of additional thirteen [13] new trucks in a few weeks’ time). Furthermore, other trainings have been scheduled for operations and cargo frontline staff as well as customer service staff of ABC Transport. In the meantime, ABC Transport has entered into partnership with DHL [the world’s leading logistics company] to handle the distribution of the products of UNILEVER West Africa across Nigeria.
April 2014
www.nihotour.gov.ng
N F C F
NIGERIA FOOD AndCULTURAL FAIR Date: May 6 – 10
2014
2014 Venue: Eagle Square, Abuja Organiser:
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM NIHOTOUR
[NIHOTOUR]
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March 2014
April 2014
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nirs in the extensive gift shop.
Nigeria Journalists on Fan-Trip with Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director, Jordan Tourism Board in Amman, Jordan.
A Seven Day Journey Through Jordan T
he Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, currently one of the safest countries in the Middle East, is a small country of roughly 90,000sqkm packed full of biblical sites, Roman towns and Bedouin camps. Yet, at the mention of Jordan, most people think only of Petra, especially in 2012 when the redrose city stepped into the limelight for the 200th anniversary of its rediscovery, by Swiss explorer Ludwig Burckhard. Incredible as this UNESCO World Heritage Site is, Petra often overshadows the other historically rich parts of Jordan that are exceptional in their own right. From the site where Moses died to a city with ambitions to become the next Dubai, these culturally significant places can be easily reached on a 370km drive that extends almost the full length of the country, from the city of Jerash in Jordan’s north, to the city of Aqaba on the north end of the Red Sea . Amman Many people fly into Jordan’s capital and leave without allowing time to explore the sand-coloured city built on seven hills. But there is plenty to see, starting with the arts centre Darat al Funun in Amman’s wealthy downtown district of Jabal Al Lweibdeh. The three 1920s mansions contain the work of more than 70 contemporary Arab artists, such as Syrian photographer Hrair Sarkissian. Jabal Al Lweibdeh is also home to the city’s other top galleries, including the impressive National Gallery, and beneath the spires of the nearby Husseini Mosque, daily street markets sell everything from household goods to gold jewelry.
Known as Philadelphia in Graeco-Roman times, Amman dates back to the Stone Age, and the city’s most impressive ancient site is the Citadel, a fortified hill with early Bronze Age tombs dating from 3300 to 1200 BC. Among the Citadel’s impressive Roman structures is the Temple of Hercules, built under Emperor Marcus Aurelius [161 to180 AD]; the 6,000-seat Roman Theatre; and the recently restored 500-seat Odeon, a small Amphitheatre that is still used for concerts. Ajloun The fortress was built by Izz al-Din Usama, a commander and nephew of Salah ad-Din alAyyubi [Saladin], in AD 11841185. The fortress is considered one of the very few, built to protect the country against Crusader attacks from Karak in the south and Bisan in the west. From its situation, the fortress dominated a wide stretch of the northern Jordan Valley, controlled the three main passages that led to it [Wadi Kufranjah, Wadi Rajeb and Wadi al-Yabes], and protected the communication routes between south Jordan and Syria. It was built to contain the progress of the Latin Kingdom of Transjordan, and as a retort to the castle of Belvoir a few miles south of the lake of Tiberias. Another major objective of the fortress was to protect the development and control of the iron mines of Ajlun. The original castle core had four corner towers. Arrow slits were incorporated in the thick walls and it was surrounded by a fosse averaging 16 meters [about 52 feet] in width and 12– 15 meters [about 39–49 feet] in
depth. Jerash Once you have had your fill of Amman, hire a car and make for the open road, heading 50km north to Jerash, arguably the most impressive of the country’s many uncelebrated sites. Counted among the world’s best preserved Roman ruins, the city’s historical gems, such as Hadrian’s Gate and the Temple of Artemis, were hidden below ground until excavations began in 1925. Each year in July and August, the ancient city comes to life with the Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts; three-weeks of dance, music and theatre. But the most iconic Jerash activity is the chariot race; daily, 45-minute shows in the restored Hippodrome, bring the ancient sport back to life.
Madaba Driving 10km southeast is the Roman Byzantine town of Madaba. Known as the City of Mosaics, Madaba is part of the 5,000-year-old King’s Highway and dates back to the Middle Bronze Age. Its most famous site is the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, on the floor of which lies a 6th-century Byzantine mosaic map that details Jerusalem, the Mediterranean coast and the Nile. Only part of the map remains, but the original measured 16m by 6m, took six years to complete and was made from two million pieces of stone. You can also admire the making of modern-day mosaics at Nebo’s Pearl on the road between Mount Nebo and Madaba. Sip strong, sweet coffee as you watch the women labouring over the art form in a studio, then shop for souve-
Mount Nebo Heading southwest, drive 120km towards the northern end of the Dead Sea, stopping briefly at Mount Nebo; one of Jordan’s most revered holy sites, this is where Moses is said to have died and been buried. Set high on a ridge, the view from the 800m-high mountaintop stretches down to the Dead Sea, across to the West Bank city of Jericho and on a clear day, even to Jerusalem, showing just how close cities and countries are in this part of the Middle East. On the highest point, Syagha, sit the remains of a Byzantine church and monastery, which were constructed by early Christians in the 4th Century and rediscovered in the 1930s, stand on the mountain’s highest point. A one Jordanian dinar ticket buys you access to the Mount Nebo Interpretation Centre and the Basilica of Moses, which contains a few very detailed Byzantine mosaic floors. Dead Sea The Dead Sea is 50 kilometres [31 mi] long and 15 kilometres [9 mi] wide at its widest point. It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, and its main tributary is the Jordan River. The Dead Sea has attracted visitors from around the Mediterranean basin for thousands of years. Biblically, it was a place of refuge for King David. It was one of the world’s first health resorts [[or Herod the Great], and it has been the supplier of a wide variety of products, from balms for Egyptian mummification to potash for fertilizers. People also use the salt and the minerals from the Dead Sea to create cosmetics and herbal sachets. The Dead Sea is an endorheic lake located in the Jordan Rift Valley, a geographic feature formed by the Dead Sea Transform [DST]. This left lateralmoving transform fault, lies along the tectonic plate boundary between the African Plate
Nigeria Journalists on Fan-Trip with Anwar Atalla, Head, Marketing, Royal Joordanian Airline.
10 April 2014
A section of Amman from Citadel
Built by Izz al-Din Usama, a commander and nephew of Salah adDin al-Ayyubi [Saladin], in AD 1184-1185.
Nigerian Journalists on Fam Trip at Citadel, Amman, Jorda
A well preserved acient theatre in Jerash
The site where Jesus Christ was Baptised by John the Baptist in Standing at Mount Nebo, the point where God showed Mos modern day Jordan Promised Land.
April 2014
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an
ses the
The main alley to the Vault in Petra
The Vault in Petra
Having fun at Dead Sea, Jordan
and the Arabian Plate. It runs between the East Anatolian Fault zone in Turkey and the northern end of the Red Sea Rift offshore of the southern tip of Sinai. It is here that the Upper Jordan River/Sea of Galilee/Lower Jordan River water system comes to an end. The Jordan River is the only major water source flowing into the Dead Sea, although there are small perennial springs under and around the Dead Sea, forming pools and quicksand pits along the edges. There are no outlet streams. Rainfall is scarcely 100 mm [4 in] per year in the northern part of the Dead Sea and barely 50 mm [2 in] in the southern part. The Dead Sea zone’s aridity is due to the rain shadow effect of the Judean Hills. The highlands east of the Dead Sea receive more rainfall than the Dead Sea itself. To the west of the Dead Sea, the Judean Hills rise less steeply and are much lower than the mountains to the east. Along the southwestern side of the lake is a 210 m [700 ft] tall halite formation called “Mount Sodom”. Petra in Wadi Musa We could hardly suggest you drive past Petra without stopping, and Wadi Mousa, the modern town adjoining the three millennia-old cities is just 200km south of Madaba. Built more than 2,000 years ago as a tax collection point by the Nabataeans, a nomadic Arab tribe; Petra’s giant rockcut monuments are known across the globe. Allow at least a day – or a couple if you can – since the city covers almost 100sqkm, and there are many lesser known sights, such as Little Petra and the High Place of Sacrifice, to be discovered. Try to arrive at dawn when the sun seeps over the canyon, illuminating the rock face in soft light.
Mohammad Khdeer, our amiable tour guide with some Nigerian Journalists at Petra, Wadi Musa, Jordan
Wadi Rum Wadi Rum is a desert full of mountains and hills located south of Jordan. It is popular for its sights in addition to a variety of sports that are practiced there, such as rock-climbing. It is also known for its connection to
Lawrence of Arabia. Nightlife Jordan, most specifically Amman and to a lesser extent Aqaba, has emerged as one of the region’s hotspots for nightlife. Alongside Dubai, Beirut, Sharm el Sheikh, and Manama, Amman is a premier clubbing destination in the Arab World and the Middle East. The country has seen an explosion in nightlife options ranging from high end nightclubs and bars in the capital city, to world-class raves at the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum. Aqaba too has seen a proliferation in nightclubs and beach clubs as a result of the massive of foreign investment and influx of foreign labour and tourists, due to the establishment of the special economic zone, ASEZA. Distant Heat held annually in Wadi Rum is considered of the world’s top raves. Aqaba Connected to the Red Sea by the Gulf of Aqaba, just less than 100km south of Petra, Aqaba is Jordan’s only port city. It is a great diving spot, thanks to the red coral that gives the Red Sea its name, but as a duty-free destination where people come to shop, the city has ambitions to be more like Dubai. Visit Souk Ayyadi, one of the city’s three large malls, to find Jordanian crafts such as ceramics and jewelry. Tala Bay A 14km drive south of the metropolis is Tala Bay, an exclusive resort where the Sharah Mountains become more visible and the waters clearer. You can also travel between Tala Bay and Aqaba by boat, which offers good views of the city and allows for snorkelling with turtles, angelfish, tiger fish, seahorses and dolphins. For sandwiches and snacks when you arrive, try Kenzy’s, a café situated among the shops and super yachts on the harbour. From Tala Bay you can also cross the water for a day trip to Sharm el-Sheikh for more diving, and perhaps to sample the nightlife in Egypt’s renowned resort.
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April, 2014
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April 2014
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are now in the South East, Imo Concorde to be precise, what makes this property different from others? Imo Concorde Hotel and Casino is a refurbished 4 star hotel located in the new Owerri, the capital of Imo State. The Hotel has 232 rooms with 4 meeting rooms. The sheer beauty of our imposing structure is a huge plus, with a beautiful view of the new and greater Owerri, and surrounding gardens that make the setting a truly magnificent place. I am from Imo state, and I feel at home here. What are the major issues you are contending with here? Power was a major challenge but we have surmounted that challenge.
Ekene Nnabuihe
Imo Concorde Hotel And Casino, Place For Everybody – Nnabuihe Ekene Nnabuihe is the director of sales and marketing, Imo Concorde Hotel and Casino Owerri Imo State his home. He is a product of the University of Nigeria Nsukka with an MBA from Imo. In this interview with LUCKY ONORIODE GEORGE, he shares his 12 years experience in the hospitality industry, having worked for both local and prestigious African Hotel giants. He invites guests to have a feel at Owerri. When did you begin hospitality marketing? It’s impossible to talk about my career without mentioning Chief Sunny Odogwu, Ide Ahaba, the owner of Grand Hotel Convention Centre Asaba. It was him who saw the potential in me, and not only encouraging me, but offered me a job immediately after my compulsory youth service in 2001 with the Hotel as sales executive; and for that, I am not only grateful but eternally thankful. I joined Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf resort in 2006 as pioneer staff. I joined African Sun in 2008 as sales and
marketing manager attached to TINAPA Lakeside Hotel inside sprawling TINAPA Business and Leisure Resort Calabar. I also worked as Area Sales Manager for Thornberry Africa, a South African Hotel management and marketing company, before I was called upon to take the position of the director of sales and marketing of the prestigious Imo Concorde Hotel and Casino Owerri. So, for the past 12 years, I have been in hospitality marketing. What was it like in the very beginning? From the first day I stepped
my feet into Grand Hotel Asaba to this moment, it has been very exciting and memorable; I just love what I do. What were your initial challenges? My initial challenges were how to build my clientele base; I was a fresher from school with zero clientele bases. Take us back to the very beginning and who encouraged you?
The sheer beauty of our imposing structure is a huge plus, with a beautiful view of the new and greater Owerri, and surrounding gardens that make the setting a truly magnificent place. I am from Imo state, and I feel at home here.
There are only two people that really encouraged me to take up hospitality job; one is chief Sunny Odogwu, he was very interested in my career growth, each time he was in town, he will always call me and ask if I am having any challenge. Another person is my longtime friend, Barrister Chike Enendu, he encouraged me to take the job, because then, hospitality job was viewed by many as jobs for drop outs. Where was your first place of work? Grand Hotel Convention Centre and Resort “The paradise by River Niger.” So far, which is your most memorable? It’s difficult to say the most memorable, like I said earlier before, I have had a very exciting and memorable career. I have met the most wonderful people different places I worked, but the warmth and friendliness of associates in African Sun is unprecedented. After moving around, you
With the issues of kidnapping in the south east, how much of hindrance is this to your marketing efforts? The issue was a big setback, but this government has dealt with it, our visitors have increased tremendously, as I speak to you now, we have at least 10 international conferences lined up for the next six months including society of chemical engineers, neuroscience international conference, just to mention a few . What is the Message to your clients? I just want to inform our clients that the Imo Concorde Hotel and Casino, the place where everybody loves to gather, has been refurbished and revitalised. By blending contemporary and rustic styling to create a unique atmosphere, stage one of the extensive refurbishment of the Imo Concorde Hotel is now completed. This first stage which covers all guests’ areas throughout the hotel includes leisure, dining areas, rooms and conferencing facilities. The revamp you will agree, has provided a fresh and welcoming atmosphere with added convenience for guests and their visitors alike. Upon arrival at this prestigious Hotel, the reception has been expanded to include additional check-in facilities, which is particularly important for the many business travellers and delegates desiring to stay at the hotel. During your stay you can benefit from the wireless internet access now available throughout the premises. The old elevators have been replaced with brand new worldclass elevators. The power situation has been solved by providing a 1000 KVA generator to complement the already existing 800 KVA.
16 April 2014
Lagosians Want Govt To Upgrade Its Carnival To International Standards
S
ome Lagos residents on Tuesday urged the Lagos State Government to improve on the packaging and marketing of its annual cultural carnivals, to meet international standards and attract more tourists. They told news men in Lagos that such would boost the internally generated revenue [IGR] of the state and provide more job opportunities.
Naija247news reports that the 2014 annual cultural carnival will hold on Lagos Island on April 3. Other annual cultural carnivals usually organised by the state include: the Eyo Festival, the Lagos Black Heritage Festival, the Eko International Film Festival, the Badagry Festival and the Jazz Music Festival. Mr Gbolahan Gadegbeku,
continued from page 4
... I will Remain Focused – Mbanefo
2014 Goals From her various public presentations both at the senate and House of Representatives, she was applauded for her vision and achievements in collaborating with the private sector so far. The NTDC leadership under Mbanefo, has 3 strategic imperatives in furtherance of the corporation’s mandate: [1]. REBUILDING the NTDC through staff capacity building programs and training programmes: workshops, retreats and local courses; consolidating partnerships with multi-lateral institutions and [2] GROWING THE TOURISM VALUE CHAIN for jobs and revenues in furtherance of her domestic tourism agenda, whose main focus is [i] to empower the Local Governments at grassroots [ii] create jobs for youths [iii] reduce Urban migration, while organizing seven regional sports carnivals focused on youth participation and engagement. Re-invent The Tourism Value Chain Through Public Private Partnership [PPP] Projects. They plan to train at least two tour guides in each of Nigeria’s 36 States as phase I and Local Governments as phase II; renovate and develop one tourist site each in the six geo-political zones, aggressively market and promote Nigeria through local and international media channels and finally, organise beauty pageant annually during the sports carnival to promote domestic tourism. As low hanging fruits – the followings are planned: A National Domestic Tourism Calendar to be published for all, Tourism Information Desk at major Airports, an
NTDC branded magazine for private sector and state governments to showcase their tourism assets and a tourism TV quiz game show that will [a] educate Nigerians on tourism sites, [b] Reward them for taking the trouble to visit tourism sites [c] generate revenue for NTDC. Tourism Sites Authentication True to her promises at the NTDC tourism forum in September 2013 to visit all 6 geopolitical zones and Abuja sites, for months now, Mbanefo has been on the road visiting all major attractions to authenticate the existence and status of tourist sites in all the six geopolitical zones and Abuja. So far, she has visited about 15 states, meeting with governors, tourism/culture commissioners, Traditional Rulers, Chief Executives of Tourism Agencies with the view to partnering with them on the importance of the tourism sector to the local economy. With less than nine months on the job, she has visited all the six geopolitical zones from Adamawa to Taraba, Benue, Kaduna, Niger, Kogi, Ondo, Osun, Lagos (water tourism); all the South South states and finally to the South East states starting with Abia. Mbanefo’s gospel, as she travels across the country is that of, we can do it and we must do it jointly. She is a passionate advocate of domestic tourism and sees that as an avenue to generate wealth for an economy blessed with a rich population. From the several festivals/carnivals such as, Carnival Calabar, Carniriv, Osun Osogbo and Mare
an information technology expert, said that Lagos was endowed with many cultural festivals and tourism potentials, which had made it a foremost state in the hospitality industry in the country. He said that such festivals would attract more foreigners if well packaged and developed like the Calabar Carnival and the Osun-Osogbo Festival. “The state government
festivals, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation [NTDC] now has enough activities to promote and stimulate the once forgotten domestic tourism. To crown it all, she is already organising the national tourism calendar for Domestic Tourism, working with all states in Nigeria. While there is no illusion that most of our tourist attractions though in existence, need development and investments, the leadership and Board of NTDC with the support of the minister are making conscious efforts to attract investors into the country. The DG is doing this through foreign embassies and missions; by providing information on tourism investment opportunities in Nigeria to them and holding constant dialogue with the diplomatic community, who have embraced her campaign for Domestic Tourism and promised to be marketers of Nigeria to their nationals abroad. She has not left out the private sector where she came from; whom she vows must drive domestic tourism actively and create PPP Projects for jobs creation and revenue for the treasury. So far, the NTDC has signed MoU with the Gambia Tourism Board, Nigeria Turkey Chamber of Commerce, recently concluded with Mexico tourism board at their last meeting in NTDC head office, which will be officially signed in Mexico this April with the Minister of Tourism Culture and National
should promote and market its annual carnivals on the Internet, for the awareness of visitors and tourists. “The idea is to exhibit the cultural and tourism potentials that the state is blessed with and to also attract more foreign and local investors,” he said. Mr Afeez Sasore, a businessman, advised the government to re-package the Eyo
Festival, the Badagry Festival and the Black Heritage Festival, to attract more tourists whenever they were being celebrated. “The state’s hospitality sector is one of the best in the country; therefore, it will encourage the influx of tourists during the carnivals if they are properly packaged,” Sasore said. An event manager, Mr Gbolahan Samuel, said that Lagos had developed to the extent of organising a carnival that would attract millions of spectators. He said that if the carnivals were well packaged, it would also bring economic benefits to the government and the people. “The carnival will increase the patronage of hospitality businesses in the state,” he said. Mrs Fatimo Sodipo, Managing Director, Tee and Tife Ventures, said the enhancement of the annual cultural carnivals would promote small and medium scale business enterprises. She said the carnivals would bring the various state governments a good turnover on their investments as visitors and tourists who attended such events would patronise small and medium-scale enterprises.
Sally Mbanefo
Orientation, and the President and NTDC is now also working on Venezuela and Cuba Nations that have several years of excellent tourism best practice are excited about partnering with Nigeria including Switzerland, France and Germany. In her first three months in office, rather than globe-trot for irrelevant trade fairs or talk loosely with the press, the director general kept silent for three months, at the end of it she signed five major MOUs, which have become operative since then – Arik Air, ABC Transport both to boost domestic tour-
ism, Heritage Bank, Reddington Hospital for Medical tourism in SW and Visa Incorporated. Currently on their list of collaborations concluded are; NFF and National Olympic Committee for sports tourism, immigration for partnership for Tourism Visas on arrival, Sure-P, Chisco group, FCT, Ondo State, Akwa Ibom State, Abia State, Benue State and before the end of this year, she would have visited at least 20 states. Who can stand in the way of our super director general, Mbanefo?
April, 2014
Gambia: Tourism Minister Meets Kanilai Elders Ahead Of Roots Festival By Njie Baldeh
F
atou Mass Jobe-Njie, Minister of Tourism and Culture accompanied by a delegation from her Ministry, officials from the Department of Tourism, the NCAC and a team of journalists from various media houses, Saturday met elders of Kanilai to discuss ahead of the upcoming Roots Festival slated for next month. Speaking to journalists after meeting the elders, the Culture and Tourism Minister said the visit was held to meet elders of Kanilai and the local organizing committee for the Futaampaf, which is part of the activities of the Roots Homecoming Festival. She added that it is a tradition because for every festival they would take cola nut to them and also explain to them about the programme activity. She said they also told them that this year’s festival will be different from all the other roots homecoming festivals as they are well prepared to promote it across nations and continents.
T
he Kenya Tourism Board and 11 companies from Kenya are taking their marketing efforts to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou immediately after the ITB 2014 has ended, it was learned yesterday. This is the second time Kenya is rolling out a dedicated sales and marketing mission in these key Chinese cities to build on past successes which saw arrivals by travelers from China soar in recent years. The market has shown considerable growth over the years with added arrivals of over 20 percent per year since 2006. Visitors from China by the end of 2011 stood at 37.400 growing by 10.3 percent to 41.300 by the end of 2012. By mid-2013 almost half of the same number had been received
Hotel Indiana Bamburi, Kenya
Hon. Fatou Mas Jobe-Njie, Gambias Minister of Tourism and Culture Trumpet Media Group
The Culture and Tourism Minister further informed journalists that this year they are expecting over 400 participants to attend the festival,
adding that the programme would be special because through The Gambia Growth and Competitiveness Project of the World Bank, some funds
already. This remarkable record in growth in the past few years can be attributed to past aggressive marketing by KTB which has continued to focus more on consumer awareness programs both on line such as through Weibo as well as in consumer events. Training of the trade has improved their knowledge on Kenya as a preferred destination. Close working relations with the media especially CCTV and other Chinese TV stations that
have filmed specific attractions like the Masai Mara migration have also propelled brand awareness. These have increased positive destination publicity while strategic partnerships have availed opportunity to leverage on joint events. Airline connectivity has been an added advantage as Kenya Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines fly to major cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing and Hong Kong.
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were allocated to them to market the festival. “We were able to do some tours to New York, Atlanta, the United Kingdom, Nigeria and even Senegal,” Madam JobeNjie said. “We were selling the Roots to the extent that we have had a group coming from the US doing twin destination. They will attend a programme in Senegal and later come to The Gambia.” She also disclosed to journalists that they have appointed promoters of the festival and one of those promoters has contacted musicians like Sizwla, Mutabaruka, Chaichulo and Quiness, who are all expected to participate for a fund-raising concert at the Independence Stadium and those artistes will be joined by Gambian artistes. She said a symposium will also be part of the activities as they are also going to bring the traditional board trade which will be funded by The Gambia Ports Authority at the GPA Ward. “We will have series of rehearsals and we will provide them with all the materials,” she stated further. “We will also have a team that will ensure the cultural carnival does not last for more than two hours so that we will leave the opening ceremony on time and prepare ourselves to go to the
stadium.” She said that in terms of logistics, the Gambia Hotel Association is part of the national organizing committee and the Trade and Tours of The Gambia are also part of the national organizing committee, and each of them will be responsible for taking activities. Some of the places they would use, with respect to logistics, are Djeliba Hotel, Kairaba Beach Hotel and Senegambia Beach Hotel, she said. She said from the UK, they are working with Gambia Bird, which will be the carrier for those coming from the UK, adding that Nigerian television firm and other interested parties will take part in the mega festival. Madam Fatou Mass JobeNjie thanked the Gambian leader for his support, especially in promoting culture, saying the President is in fact the chief patron of the event. Minister Jobe-Njie told journalists that the Roots Homecoming Festival is a call for action for people all over the world to actually embrace their ancestral identity, through the weeklong programme of an ultimate experience engendered by the cultural tourism of The Gambia. Tourism and Culture Permanent Secretary Modou Joof and the Kanilai Alkalo also spoke at the briefing on the upcoming roots festival.
Statistics from the National Tourism Administration show that Chinese residents made 83.18 million trips overseas in 2012. China’s outbound travel increased by over 20 percent in recent years and as such China is leading the top ten countries and regions with the fastest growth of outbound travel expenditure, according to the recent data from the UN World Tourism Organization. China took the lead with a growth rate of 30 percent and the number of Chinese travelling overseas is estimated to reach 200 million by 2030, according to a UNWTO report published in 2012. According to China Outbound Tourism Research Institute together with Rossetto Solutions, China will become the leading global outbound tourism source market in 2013, with 90 million bordercrossings estimated, overtaking Germany and the USA both in terms of numbers of travels and expenditure. Chinese tourists’ overseas spending is expected to rise to 190 billion US Dollars by 2015. The national tourism administration reported 4 million Chinese traveled overseas during the 2013 Chinese New Year Holidays, an increase of 14% which is a new travel record. Africa and Kenya in particular are still a relatively untapped destination and many Chinese companies are now setting up branch offices in Kenya. This is
an opportunity in addition to the appealing tourism product that KTB is leveraging on and indeed putting in more resources to the emerging markets like China and India. This latest KTB road show comes at the backdrop of Kenya’s win of an award for ‘Most Potential Overseas Tourism Destination’ at the 2013 Ctrip Year Best Tourism Destination Network Selection Awards. The award ceremony was held by Ctrip on 28th February 2014 at the Shanghai Hyatt Hotel, bringing in more than 300 guests from domestic and foreign tourism bureaus, enterprises, institutions and media. Mr. Cui, on behalf of Kenya Tourism Board’s China office, attended the event and accepted the award on behalf of KTB. This year is the fifth edition of this annual selection campaign for leading tourism destinations which is the largest one in China. China’s leading online tourism company Ctrip Group has organized and launched this event in 2009 and for this year’s awards a two month campaign attracted online votes from approximately 3 million net-users. The result reflects the increasing awareness and recognition of Kenya’s diverse tourism products among Chinese tourists. Moreover, it is believed that China’s market continuously represents an expanding opportunity for Kenya’s tourism sector.
Kenya Tourism Takes Aim At Chinese Market
18 April 2014
Imoke To Be Honored At Abuja Bantaba O
ne of the Best Tourism leaders in the history of Nigeria Governor Liyel Imoke will be honored at this year’s Abuja Bantaba. As the world celebrates 100 years of Aviation, Abuja Bantaba will be celebrating 100 years of growth and development of Travel Business in Nigeria. Abuja Bantaba will celebrate the pioneers, the exceptional, innovators and the legends of the travel business some of whom have never been recognized before.As Nigeria celebrates anniversary, Abuja Bantaba will be honouring the 100 leading Travel and Tourism personalities in Nigeria’s history at the Travellers Award Dinner on April 25, 2014 at Abuja. Governor Imoke took up the Tourism projects of Cross River and drove it to phenomenal heights.The world Famous Carnival Calabar known as the biggest Street Party in Africa grew from a local event to a global event. From less than a thousand Hotel rooms in Calabar to over 4000 rooms in Calabar which are mostly fully occupied in the one month long Calabar Festival. To make Tinapa fully functional Governor Imoke launched the Summit Hills project to be completed before 2015. The Summit Hills a signature Project is a composite mixed use area adjoining Tinapa with a 160 house estate,an 18hole golf course,a world class Convention centre and a 200 room hotel among other facilities. Cross River state has led the tourism promotion business in Nigeria using the Carnival as it’s pivot,drawing participation from all over the world establishing the carnival as a must watch event in Africa. For most people who cannot go to Calabar in December Abuja Bantaba is the opportunity to see this world famous spectacle play outside of Calabar. The Carnival Calabar will showcase to a select audience at the 4th edition of Abuja Bantaba the meeting event for travel professionals on the 25th of April. Since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, one of the pillars of integration and growth of the country was the transport system built initially on the back of the North –South rail network which now includes; Road, Air, Riverine and Pipeline movement. The modern Nigeria is built on an integrated transport system that carries millions of people around the country that includes over 14 Million Air Travellers through 22 official Airports, aviation was the last to join the Rail, Road and River Travel in Nigeria. Today, Nigeria is one of the fastest growing hospitality hotspots in the world and with a huge travelling public and
aviation profile with its travel agents generating over $1.25b in a year. With transformation in progress, it is expected that the future of travel business in Nigeria is bright. It is against this backdrop that the organizers of Abuja Bantaba announced its plans to honour certain individuals as well as companies in the Tourism and Travel Business in Nigeria in line with Nigeria’s celebration of her 100 years together as one entity. The centenary of Nigeria comes with different landmark celebrations and for the tourism sector and players, the stage is set to roll out drums not only to assess and celebrate achievements, but also to encourage icons whose efforts are indelible at bringing tourism promotion to limelight. The personalities who were carefully drawn from both core and allied tourism and travel sector, based on their immense contribution to tourism include CP Audu Bako the former Governor of old Kano State, seen as one of the greatest tourism visionaries in Nigeria along with Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia former Governor of Old Bendel State credited with numerous tourism projects and Dr Donald Duke the former governor of Cross River State. Other pioneers in Aviation include Chief Igbinedion of the famous Okada Air the first private major airline in Nigeria, Sir Louis Ojukwu of Ojukwu Transport, Chief Ubajiaka of Izuchukwu transport, Austin Ilodibe of the famous Ekene Dili Chukwu. In addition, frontline hospitality and tour operations will be honoured along with the first male and female pilots and the Nigerian who invented the popular Chapman drink. According to the organiser of Abuja Bantaba, “the annual travel event organised by Akwaaba Travel Market in Abuja, which is a one-day speed-dating event at Abuja Sheraton Hotel, in its fourth edition celebrate with Nigeria the Centenary. “As part of our centenary, we seek to honour the best of Nigeria 100 travel companies selected as the leading travel organisations in Nigeria and list of 100 top hotels. “To this end, a special edition of our annual magazine Travellers Yearbook will be launched. Ikechi Uko said the publication will include a compilation of 100 Nigerians that have made impact in the development of tourism and travel in Nigeria’s history and the top 100 organisations at the forefront of travel business today in Nigeria. ‘The publication and the listed organisations and people will be honoured at the 12th Travellers Award ceremony at Abuja on April 25,” Uko added.
Gambia Tourist Arrivals Grew By Nine Percent in 2013
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he number of tourist arrivals to Destination Gambia from the month of January to December 2013 has surpassed the number of arrivals from January to December 2012. Statistically, the number of tourist arrivals by air for the year 2012 stood at 157,323 while year 2013 air arrivals is 171,200 and this did not factor the number of arrivals by sea and land. These figures, according to Adama Njie, director of marketing GTBoard, “has shown a record growth of 9 per cent as it does not include the number of arrivals through land and sea.” Taking into consideration the figures of the air tourist arrivals for 2013, which is 171,200 compared to 157,323
of 2012, (an increase of 9%) the two years under review, Destination Gambia tourist arrivals are impressive when compared to UNWTO projected growth of 3 to 4 per cent in 2013. Focusing on the 2013 tourist arrivals, according to the GTBoard analysis, out of the recorded 171,200 arrivals British tourists were the most registered, 45,866 (26.79) followed by the Dutch 25,517 (14.90) Swedish 7,953 (4.65); Nigerian 7,124 (4.16) respectively. Among other nationalities that visited the Gambia were Danish; Finnish Norwegian; German; Belgian; Spanish; French; American; Italian; Austrian; Czechs; Irish; Polish different African nationals
among other tourists. Most of these tourists visited the Destination Gambia for different purposes like business; educational; leisure; conference and adventure. This is an impressive achievement for the sector. Adama Njie said this was attainable with the full support from the president of the Republic, who is the number one promoter of tourism and culture and as well the minister of Tourism and Culture with and his permanent secretary, as well as the teamwork of the staff of GTBoard led by Robert. Adding to this the success is part of efforts of other stakeholders and with some of the officials of MoTC and GTBoard that are behind the scene.
Namibia: NTB Spends N$35 Million in Tourism Marketing
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he Namibia Tourism Board [NTB] has been pursuing stronger growth by spending about N$35 million on destination marketing. Uahekua Herunga, Minister of Environment and Tourism revealed this last week in the National Assembly, while motivating the ministry’s N$725.368 million budget for the 2014/15 financial year. Herunga said whilst taking into account the need to sustain the current source markets, which include Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, France and South Africa, the NTB has also considered the diversification option to increase tourism
arrivals. He also noted that China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and North America and SADC states were identified as emerging source markets and efforts to lay the groundwork to attract visitors to Namibia are being rolled out. Since there are no direct flights to these countries, Herunga said Air Namibia is collaborating with other airlines to increase greater connectivity and airlift. “Therefore, there is a need for the NTB and Air Namibia to work on joint destination promotion campaigns, which is currently being considered by the leadership of the two entities,” he said.
The New York Times has selected Namibia as the sixth ‘Must Visit’ destination in the world, while Wanderlust magazine in the UK selected Namibia as the number one country to visit. Herunga also highlighted some major capital projects, which have been completed over the last financial year such as the Popa Falls Resort in the Kavango East Region that was successfully re-developed and completed for approximately N$41 million. In addition, he said the redevelopment at Tora Bay to the tune of N$6.5 million was completed and the facility re-opened for business in December 2013 already.