The devastating blow dealt on tourism by the outbreak of Coronavirus [COVID-19], has been a source of worry to experts in Africa, who in a conference have put heads together to proffer solutions on the survival of the industry after the pandemic.
The conference, organised by African Travel Times magazine in conjunction with BEN Television, a leading multi-ethnic channel in the United Kingdom [UK] and Europe held during their first Zoom call recently.
With a topic centred on Tourism and Hospitality Industry in Africa and how it’s being affected by COVID-19 pandemic, the conference was held in view to proffering Suggestions and the possible Opportunities therein in the industry.
The Zoom conference, which was moderated by Lucky Onoriode George, Publisher, African Travel Times magazine, has a robust five panellists that include: Akwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Tourism Authority [GTA]; Sheikh Tejan Nyang, Head, Institute of Travel and Tourism, Gambia; Adedayo Adesugba, Honorary Chairman, Institute of Hospitality UK-Nigeria International Branch; Efetobo Awhana, Founder, Nigeria Travel Week; Alistair Soyode, Chief Executive Officer, BEN TV, UK and Hon. Mary Manzo Adikwu of Eco-Tours Centre and Mary Erika Foundation, Nigeria, and who also is an Adviser to the Taraba State Governor on Tourism.
In his opening statement, George highlighted that Africa is not a country, but a continent as it’s often mistakenly referred to by many foreigners and the Diasporas.
He pointed out that the individual countries would continue to battle for the tourists from the competitive market based on their uniqueness and comparative advantage.
According to him, the continent should not only look at the number of tourists it can get from other parts of the world but the inclusive development of the entire travel and tourism chains.
George said that the entire industry’s sub-sectors of airlines, travel agents, tour operators, hotelier and accommodation suppliers, the ground boards; as well as the tourism boards matter in getting through the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic period.
Speaking, Agyeman shared his country’s experience in dealing with the pandemic, as well as the tourism industry working closely with the COVID-19 Taskforce in ensuring that all practitioners, like the entire country, adhere strictly to all protocols and guidelines from the health experts.
On his country’s efforts to continue to receive tourists, he said the Diasporas still remains largely Ghana’s focus, but that with the pandemic, the focus would for now shift to continental and regional markets like Nigeria that holds huge potential for any country in Africa to benefit from.
Agyeman stressed further that Ghana Year of Return programme that heralds last year was no doubt a major boost and as such, the government has structured it to be a 10-year project that would continue to enable Ghana to continuously benefit from the African-American, Caribbean and people of African descent generally as visitors.
On his part, Nyang, a seasoned practitioner said COVID-19 indeed is a tragedy for his country, because the government in its own shocking wisdom decided to send all Gambia Tourism Board [GTB] on compulsory leave with no one to coordinate or interface with the private sector.
He lamented that the government of the Gambia has abandoned practitioners in this very difficult time, of which they now have to bear the burden of loans and other liability on their own.
Also speaking from the Gambia, the Director of Tourism, International, Gambia Tourism Board, said the tourism industry is in a major crisis, following the bankruptcy and subsequent of Thomas Cook that was a major player in the facilitators of tourists between Europe and the ‘’Smiling Coast’’ as it’s fondly called in the tourism circle.
Adesugba, using the Lagos State of Nigeria talked about tourism philosophy, which sadly like most African countries or destinations around the world are not observed in any form or shape.
On the recently re-unveiling of the Lagos State Tourism Master Plan, of which he has been involved in series of Zoom conferences and a member of a committee to review the document, he noted that the process is ongoing, that the plan was commissioned by the previous regime and the current thought it wise that a thorough review is necessary, which is being done at the moment according to him.
On the capacity of the company that produced the Master Plan itself, Ernst & Young, that was paid N386 million by bragging on how it produced a master-plan for Gambia and Morocco, which were all investigated to be lies, Adesugba said he was not aware, but that he can confirm that the document is being scrutinised by competent professionals from various subsectors of the industry at large.
He also said that on tourism in Nigeria and Africa, the sector is disjointed and fragmented; therefore, the philosophy of doing has to be redefined on how the continent can beat the COVID-19 pandemic because other continents are already redefining and the best way possible to reshape their tourism industry as a whole.
Adikwu spoke broadly on the provision of infrastructure and the need for collaboration between the public and the private sector.
She noted that Taraba State is the home to one of Africa’s largest park, Gashaka-Gumti National Park, the largest park in Nigeria, covers an area of wilderness greater than 6,600 sq km.
‘’The park’s name is derived from two of the region’s oldest and most historic settlements in Nigeria that is rich in flora and fauna’’, she said.
Awhana said that Nigeria has so much and as such, Nigerians must be encouraged and educated to see reasons to travel within the country.
He opined that domestic tourism has so much to contribute to resolving the ongoing COVID-19 economic crisis.
Without mincing words, Awhana, who is unapologetically a domestic tourism enthusiast, uses every avenue or platform he has to do just that.
Soyode on his part noted that a sound platform is needed and effective marketing of the tourism potential of the continent is long overdue.
He said that for Africa to maximise the opportunities that the sector can contribute to the economic and social development of the continent, issues such as infrastructure, security and the right promotion to elevate the profile of the various countries is needed.
Soyode opined that “the competitiveness of our destinations is still a major issue, because of air connectivity and its cost implications for tourists that would always go to destinations with the best offers and deals”.
Overall, like Awhana and Awofeso, a travel journalist noted, most countries are now looking inwards to promote domestic and regional tourism to sustain the sector pending when things would become normal once again.