By Abubakar Yunusa
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, has called on tour operators to intensify efforts to market Nigeria’s tourism destinations to the global audience, saying the sector has the capacity to generate substantial foreign exchange and improve the country’s international image.
Speaking at the 5th Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators held in Lagos at the weekend, Onyema said Nigeria remained richly endowed with tourism assets that had yet to be fully harnessed due to inadequate promotion and investment.
He urged stakeholders to deliberately project the country’s cultural heritage, noting that attractions such as the Durbar Festival in northern Nigeria and the Calabar Carnival could compete with globally recognised cultural events if properly marketed.
According to him, the palaces of traditional rulers, particularly those of the Emirs in the North, also possess enormous tourism value and should be developed into major attractions capable of drawing foreign visitors.
Onyema said strategic investment by both the government and private sector in preserving and showcasing the palaces would create new revenue streams through cultural tourism.
He suggested that theatre-style auditoriums could be established within the palaces to enable tourists observe traditional institutions and cultural practices, describing such experiences as unique attractions that many foreigners would be willing to pay for.
The Air Peace boss also expressed concern over what he described as the deliberate negative portrayal of Nigeria by some citizens, warning that such narratives discourage tourists and foreign investors from visiting the country.
While acknowledging the country’s security challenges, Onyema argued that persistent emphasis on insecurity had created damaging perceptions abroad.
He revealed that foreign pilots, engineers and other aviation professionals frequently request additional security arrangements before travelling to Nigeria because they believe the country is unsafe.
“Some people have turned insecurity into a business. Foreign airline cabin crew are escorted by security because they have been told they could be kidnapped. Even when we bring in foreign pilots and engineers, the first question they ask is, ‘Where is your security?’ That perception is hurting Nigeria,” he said.
Onyema called on Nigerians to demonstrate patriotism by promoting the country’s strengths instead of constantly highlighting its shortcomings, stressing that a positive national image was critical to tourism growth and economic development.
He also commended the Federal Government’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, describing it as a transformative infrastructure initiative that would open up tourism corridors and stimulate investment across the country.
