Nigeria hails China’s tourism strategy, moves to adapt model

By Ochiaka Ugwu

Nigerian government has hailed China’s remarkable strategic tourism planning stating that adopting it would unlock the full potential of its tourism as a driver of economic diversification, cultural diplomacy and sustainable development.

This was made known Tuesday by the duo of Director General of National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Dr. Abisoye Fagade and Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) Dr. Ola Awakan at the Seminar on China’s Tourism Development Experience held in China Cultural Center in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Fagade said the growing relationship with China presents an important opportunity to build the skilled workforce, professional culture and institutional capacity required to make tourism a serious contributor to the Nigerian economy.

“Our responsibility at NIHOTOUR is therefore not simply to train people. It is to help build the skilled workforce, professional culture and institutional capacity required to make tourism a serious contributor to the Nigerian economy. Our growing relationship with China presents an important opportunity in this regard” he said.

He noted that his participation in a tourism development programme in Beijing gave him the opportunity to see first-hand how China has deliberately deployed tourism as an instrument of economic development, cultural preservation, rural revitalisation, skills development and community prosperity.

He however, sought deeper cooperation between NIHOTOUR and Chinese tourism institutions, particularly CACTA and the China Tourism Academy, in areas such as professional training, curriculum development, tourism research, digital transformation, rural and cultural tourism, destination management and knowledge exchange.

Also speaking, Director General of NTDA, Dr. Ola Awakan who thanked China for convening the event said that it provides an important platform for knowledge sharing, dialogue and the deepening of tourism cooperation between Nigeria and China.

Awakan represented by NTDA’s Director of Human Resources Management, Oladipo Adekunle said that China’s remarkable transformation into one of the world’s leading tourism destinations offers valuable lessons for Nigeria, noting that China’s experience demonstrates the importance of strategic tourism planning, infrastructure development, investment, destination branding, digital innovation, human capital development and strong public-private sector collaboration.

He stated that as Nigeria seeks to unlock its tourism’s potentials to drive economic diversification, cultural diplomacy and sustainable development, there was much it can learn from China’s experience while adapting relevant approaches to its own unique cultural, natural and socio-economic context.

Speaking visually from Beijing, President of China Tourism Academy and Director of Data Centre of Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Dai Bin who delivered the keynote speech, stressed the need for advanced supply, structural reform and shift from attraction-based tourism to holistic tourism.

Cultural Counselor of Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and Director of China Cultural Centre, Yang Jianxing who said that tourism serves as a vital bridge connecting people, nations, and civilizations, noted that China and Nigeria were nations with long histories, diverse cultures, and abundant tourism resources.

The event showcased China as the world tourism destination with many Nigerians expressing interest in visiting China to witness firsthand its tourism potentials.