Tourism in Anambra State today and tomorow

•Tourism in Anambra State
today and 

tomorow

A Workshop For Staff Of Tourism Department,  Ministry Of Diaspora Affairs, Culture & Tourism, Anambra State.
Date: 21/03/2018
Venue: La Luna Hotels, Enugu/Onitsha Express way, Awka, Anambra State

• by

•Dr. Chigozie Jude Odum

•Department of Archaeology and Tourism

•University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

•Email:jude.odum@unn.edu.ng

•Phone:+2348039473427

•www.ottourism.blogspot.com.ng

•PREAMBLE

•TOURISM- multidimensional concept

-It usually entail a movement outside one’s usual residence.

-Such movement involves an overnight stay

-should not exceed one year.

-Money spent in the destination is gotten outside the destination.

-Means of movement from and to the destination and within the destination

(All tourism involves travel but not all travel involves tourism. How?)

-

•HYPOTHETICAL ACTIVE TOURISM SYSTEM

(Contact the author for the diagram)

•Tourist attractions in Anambra State

•Natural attractions

•Caves- Ogbunike, Owerre-ezuakala,  Ufuma, etc.

•Rivers- Anambra River, Obizi, Nkissi, Orashi etc.

•Lakes- Obutu, Amaokpala (Iyi-ocha), Agulu lake, etc.

•Forest reserves- Agu-aba (threatened), Mamu (in contest), Akpaka (destroyed), Achalla, Nkachu-Ituku etc. (NB: Most of these forests mere plantations)

•Ubulu and Umuawulu has ungazetted forests with varieties of flora and fauna

•Cultural attractions

•Shrines- Haba, Ntoko, Ogwugwu akpu (Alusi-Okija), Egwu-imoka, Ojedi, etc.

•Cultural festivals- Ofala, New yam, Uzoiyi, Erimede, Afia-oru, Imoka, etc.

•Built & Historic attractions

•Ojukwu bunker, Asele institute, Igboukwu museums, Obu-ofor Nri Museum, Zik’s house, Onitsha seaport, Rojenny tourist village, Fr. Tansi grave, Holy trinity cathedral, All Saints cathedral etc.

•Markets- Main market Onitsha (acclaimed largest market in West Africa), Nkwo Nnewi (A.K.A  Japan of Africa), Bridge head (Head bridge) Onitsha, Ochanja, Eke-Awka,etc.

Chief Okeke Anyichie House

Exhibtion in Igboukwu Museum

Amaokpala lake

Owerrezukala cave and waterfall

Agulu Lake

•How can tourism work in Anambra State?

1. TEAM WORK……WHY?

•Avoid the word ‘I’ (It is a sign of selfishness and it kills team spirit), ‘WE’ should be used at all time, it makes team members feel belonged.

•T=Together

•E= Everyone

•A=Achieves

•M=More

•Example…can we remember ants? They work in teams.

•How can tourism work in Anambra State? Cont’d.

•Contemporary Practice

•Community engagement (Bottom-up or top down; enlightenment (defacement going on in all the caves. See the NCMM Act of 1979).

•Sustainability practices.

•Forums online (facebook, whatsapp, twetter etc.).

•Generate statistical data (calls for effective plan and development).

•Short courses.

•Public Private Partnership ( variants of PPP).

•Proposals (Seeking for alternative source of fund).

•Self-development (what are you doing other than government effort?).

•Collaboration (NTDC, UNESCO, tertiary institutions (NIHOTOUR: National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, sister ministries like lands, environment etc.).

•Geographical Information System (GIS)….happens at a particular location on the surface of the earth. The knowledge of GIS to tourism is innumerable

•MUST WE WAIT FOR GOVERNMENT? No! How?

“A man that gives excuses all the time, is not far from failure”- Dr. C-J Odum

•-personal development (hire a private teacher or professional)

•- Draw proposals and plans and seek support from wealthy individuals.

•-Advertise your capabilities (create online ‘accounts’ like website or blogs (this is easy and cheap)

•- Draw up plans for tourism policies and programmes

•- Evaluate government regulations and policies on tourism (Nigeria Tourism Master Plan. What is Anambra State Tourism Master Plan? Have we keyed into the Sustainable development goal of 2030?

•What gap are you filling?

•The contributions you are making in the ministry shows how relevant you are in the system.

•The idea that your work/responsibility is a ‘government-thing’ (Olu bu Olu govmenti) is obsolete This creates laisser-faire attitude in place of work. Avoid it at all cost.

•Can you monitor and development a particular attraction, let it be your contribution? (Government effort will tend to be meager due to expensive nature of tourism, except where a particular government is tourism-motivated. Example: Former governor of Cross River State Donald Duke).

•Efficacy (How useful and reliable are you? Can your superiors rely on you to deliver on assignment?)

•The role of government in tourism promotion in Anambra State.

Why do government invest in tourism?

v Job opportunities (hotels, car-hire services, tour guides, service providers etc.)

vRevenue (Government and host community)

vInfrastructures.

What is Anambra state government interest in tourism?......

•What are the responsibilities of Anambra State government towards tourism?

ØInventory (use of Global Positioning System (GPS) is inevitable).

ØPolicy formulation (this is the bedrock for meaningful tourism development).

ØStakeholders identification and engagement.

ØGeneration of tourists/visitors information.

ØTourism promotion and marketing (Use ABS TV & Radio station-likely to be free & cheap).

ØCollaboration with National, International organizations and related agencies.

ØSecurity.

ØAll staff should have a copy of Global Code of Ethics in Tourism 

(I will drop a copy with the Director of tourism)

ØSeminars, conferences and workshops (of  this kind is a right step in the right direction).

•Tourism Today in Anambra State

•Lack of reliable statistics (helps in developmental plans and projections).

•Lack of professionals.

•Inadequate staff

•Unethical practices of private investors.

•Lack of data for projections (E.g.: What percent is Anambra State ready to get from the forecast of UNWTO concerning the projected growth in the sector for emerging economies which Nigeria belongs to? By 2030, 57% of international arrivals will be from emerging economy destinations (UNWTO, Tourism Highlights, 2017  Edition). 

•Some of these undeveloped attractions yields money to these communities, what percent comes to the government coffers?

•What is the level of staff motivation? (Tourism thrives with passion, how passionate are we about tourism in Anambra State?).

•What is or where is Anambra State Tourism Master plan?

•Tourism for tomorrow in Anambra State

A.A well trained and motivated workforce.

B.Geographic Information System holds a lot of tomorrow opportunities for tourism professionals, tourism planning and development. (See, Akukwe and Odum, 2014: Designing and Developing a GIS Database for Tourism in Nigeria: The Case of Anambra State).

C.Exploring ...........is inevitable.

D.Alternative sources of fund is a must!

E.Key into Sustainable Development Goals  2030.

F.What is the department relationship with UNWTO like?

G.A synergy with tourism professionals who have worked extensively on tourism related issues in the state is needed.

H.Periodic workshops/trainings.

•Sustainability Issues (Contact the author for the diagram)

•Reactions

•Question and answer session.

1.What is/are the major challenges facing tourism development in Anambra State, other than what we have here?

2.Apart from alternative source of fund, how do we increase government attention in tourism in Anambra State?

3.How can we achieve sustainability when community members are not interested in tourism projects?

4.How can  we ensure equitable distribution of tourism benefits in host communities?

•Contributions.

NB:This is an abridged version of the lecture.