•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
•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.
