Jimoh Babatunde
9 January 2009
WHILE less endowed countries reap bountifully from tourism, especially in the last four years due largely to the unprecedented growth (over 900 million international arrivals recorded in 2007 with improvement expected in 2008 when the final result is released) in the industry, Nigeria, which is known for its huge resources is yet to explore the underbelly of the industry.
Attempts no doubt have been made in the past by the various administrations in the country to give a lift to the industry. However, the result has been a poor execution of major policies and programmes that were meant to improve performances in the area. And in most cases, leaders entrusted with the fate of the sector care less about it while others act and take decisions based on faulty premises.
The result of these years of total neglect and inaction is that the nation and operators in the sector are the poorer for it. In the case of most of the investors, the situation is lamentable as they hardly get a fair hearing or support from financial institutions and government donor agencies for the execution of their projects.
Aware of the problem that this poses for the sector and the further dip if urgent steps are not taken to address the situation given the fact that global tourism remains in the ascendancy, Wanle Akinboboye, one of the operators who have had to surmount all odds and indignation to set his dreams afoot rather than keep bemoaning the fate of the sector and those of his kindred, has decided to tread a new path, waxing lyrical with a new vision.
After a detailed study of the sector and the country, Wanle reveals that he has come to the sad realization that the main reason why the sector has remained a beggarly one is because many of the people in government and other leaders as well as financial institutions decision makers lack a basic understanding of what tourism is all about.
Even when they do, it is mostly superficial and pedestrian. Added to this, he says, is that most of them do not also have the tradition or culture of leisure and entertainment and where they do, it is not deep enough. What this means is that the country and business concerns are in the hands of those who are not well versed in the modern mix that is required to give tourism the expected push.
"You can't do tourism if you don't partake in it. You can't give what you don't have." The bane of the sector, he says is because the leaders of today are not conscious of the leisure culture and so it is difficult for them to affect the kind of change that is needed to grow it.
Referring to his pet projects, he says "it was difficult for me to get government support because they can't see what the vision is about. I can't blame anyone but we have to make a correction to ensure that the future leaders have the right perspective and a basic understanding of the sector and its impact on the society."
To this end, Wanle has set up a tourism club. However, the make and focus of Wanle's tourism club is different from the normal tourism club. For a start, the club is named: Tomorrow's Leaders Today (TLT).
What is it all about? Waxing poetic Wanle says it is to raise a corps of young executive and aspiring leaders who would be totally schooled and educated in the finest culture of travel, tourism, leisure and entertainment. "TLT is aimed at educating young executives to become passionate about tourism in Nigeria," he contends.
According to him, most Nigerian elite and leaders today started way back in their early twenties to network and form alliances which today has served them well. Unfortunately, they were not introduced to tourism hence cannot champion the course as they are already too old and steeped in their ways and beliefs to make any appreciable impact.
Hence, TLT is being envisioned solely as an exclusive club of some sort for the young minds to interact, network and make friends. However, the basic difference this time would be that the members would be exposed purely to the finest of tourism environment and education across the world.
The essence of this expose, he says is for the members to catch a feel of what global tourism is and what it takes to grow and nurture the industry. Once they have this basic understanding and partake fully, it becomes easier for them to take the right decisions and actions that would impact positively on the sector in whatever positions that they occupy in the near future.
To be eligible for membership, Wanle informs that an aspirant must be between ages 21 and 45. The one must also be gainfully employed or engaged and must earn an average of N2 million annually and must have been working or engaged for about two to three years. Also, a member must show flair for tourism.
Explaining further, Wanle reveals that a member is expected to pay a subscription fee which would be loaded onto the debit card of each member for purchases and also sundry expenses. La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort is to serve as the administrative office and base of the club.
That is quite a lot for an ordinary club you would say but Wanle sees it differently as he insists that the advantage of belonging to the club far outweighs the monetary value as members stand to gain a lot and contribute immensely to the development of the society and the tourism industry.
He outlines the benefits to include: Unlimited free access to the resort ; Use of recreational facilities; Invitation to weekend beach bonfire disco parties; Saturday morning kayaking, cycling, swimming and late night ocean fishing; 10 per cent discount on all levels of accommodation; and Insurance coverage for all members
According to Wanle, the formal inauguration is expected to hold in the first half of 2009 when all the logistics for the final operation of the club, he says would have been put in place and the club running.
The unique aspect of the club, he says is that whereas other clubs afford members the opportunity to interact, dance, smoke and drink in a noise_infected environment however, TLT provides a friendly and creative environment for its members to network, interact and conduct businesses as well as to be friends. "Here you discover yourself, find your friends and have unlimited access to the resort and the club at Ikeja," he says.
The involvement of Bank PHB with the club, Wanle informs is tied to the vision of the bank nurturing young and talented men and women that are destined for greater heights. And with the bank, he says financing the operations of the club becomes easier as it provides loan facilities for members and also runs a travel package whereby members' trip to tourist destinations for holidays could be taken care of.
Given the novelty of the vision, one sought to know if Wanle has the pre_requisite to run the club. His response is in the affirmative, going by the hindsight of running a resort for 20 years and watching the development of the sector, he is more than capable and equipped to run with the vision.
Besides, he says that the club is actually borne out of the desire and wish of the people. His discovery over the years is that most of the time visitors to the resort are usually surprised at the level of development there and the standard of activities and so are always curious to know more about the setting and the industry.
Apart from the need to inject new philosophy to the society and raise a new crop of leaders, the enthusiasm of the people and their repeated visits are some of the factors that have influenced the setting up of the club.
Besides serving the Nigeria audience, Wanle says the club is also opened to those in the Diaspora as most of them hunger for a standard tourism facility whenever they visit home, having been exposed to some of the best destinations in their many travels.
He believes that the club would help bring about accelerated development in domestic tourism as members of the club would not need to be educated theoretically about tourism as they would have a hands_on experience and knowledge based on their exposure to various destinations.
"This can help tourism development because they can relate with it. Without you having to educate them theoretically they have a practical knowledge being members of the club. When people network together they would also have impact on each other," he says.
He insists, however, that for it to develop,
"Nigerians first must say good things about Nigeria for other people to come to Nigeria. It is a very exclusive club and not one of the run of mill thing... Once you have that the problem of Nigeria tourism is solved because these young leaders can be trusted to take the right decision and act accordingly once they assume positions of authorities."
Passionate about the new vision, Wanle is optimistic about its success. "I am very optimistic; it is something that would live forever because it is an ideology, it is a movement and a belief. Something that is internalized cannot be destroyed," he concludes enthusiastically.
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