We are yet to harness abundant tourism potentials in Africa’
Ofure Rita Obidike is the President of Skal Lagos. It is an association of travel professional organisation of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. Obidike who is also the Managing Director of Discovery Travel & Tours Limited speaks with WOLE SHADARE at a lunch organised for visiting President, SKAL International, Lavonne Wittman in Lagos on the landmark achievement of SKAL, the growing influence of SKAL in the entire travel, tourism and hospitality industry worldwide and factors hindering growth of tourism in Africa among others. Excerpts
What was the felling receiving President of Skal International in Nigeria for the first time ever?
The event is all about welcoming our international President Lavonne Wittman who came primarily to inaugurate our Port-Harcourt branch of SKAL International and it is historical because it is really the first time we are having SKAL President visit Nigeria in 60 years we have been in existence. She happens to be an African as well and it is the first time really that the association is having an African leaderand I guess it all works out fine for us. She was supposed to have been here at our 60th Anniversary which we celebrated on May 1, 2019 but somehow something came up and she could not make it. So, she decided to use this opportunity being determined to visit at least one African country before she steps down as President in December 2019. We are just fortunate.
How important is this club to the business of the members?
It is absolutely important. We are talking about an organisation that is 85 years old worldwide and like I said we are 60 years old in Nigeria, there is something special about it. It is actually the only umbrella association that covers the entire travel, tourism, hospitality industry worldwide. So, it means that we really can do every amongst ourselves. Even the association of hoteliers, travel agents, they are all part of this association. It is very important group, it is really vibrant one especially in most other parts of the world especially South Africa, Australia, Mexico, US and all of that. We all benefit both locally and internationally from each other. Our businesses are growing much more because we have friends in all sectors of our industry. It is something that it is too good to be true. It is just for us to be able to make others see exactly what makes SKAL thick, special and different. This is part of the reasons we are having this event today.
How important is collaboration between your members to leverage on travel business?
In these days of so much going on with lack of trust, lack of confidence and all that, both locally and internationally, it is important you have something bringing you together and in Nigeria especially, we need to grow tourism. We are not where we are supposed to be. We go for congresses in different parts of the world, sightseeing, what they have, you can’t compare it with what we have in Nigeria, but it is obvious we have not harnessed our natural environment. These other places are artificial. This is where we have natural, beautiful tourist sights. We just need to develop them further and also most important thing we need to do is create more employment. The economy needs to grow. When the economy grows, it means we are reducing insecurity, you are inviting more investors and you are bringing us into the limelight worldwide. We can’t do this alone. We need the government to help us. We are also happy that the state tourism board was represented and we have tried to actually showcase Lagos tourism in our congresses because this is where we operate from. It has been quite effective. People are amazed with what they see. We are just hoping that we will get more backing. We have virtually decided to offer honorary membership to government officials to expedite such processes. It was a decision that was taken at the congress last two months in Miami. With this, we will be able to move Nigerian tourism forward and place it where it is supposed to be.
How effective is your communication with government and how have they been able to tap from your experiences, knowledge to grow the tourism industry?
Sad to say, that has not been very effective. I think one of the problems is that there have been too many turnovers in the government bodies that are supposed to actually connect with these things. While you are trying to make a mileage with one particular person in authority, the next thing, the person is changed. You start all over again; that is not helping us because you really cannot appreciate what you don’t know. We need to have some kind of continuity. In Kenya, the tourism board is very involved with SKAL. They sponsored the Mombassa congress we had in 2018. They were very visible. They were very involved because they know what it is bringing to them. Through tourism, they were able to cleanse the impression of terrorism that was painted all over the country at one time. It is important that the government plays its role in all of these, the round pegs in round holes in terms of those that would man these positions. They also have an understanding that it is the biggest money spinner worldwide. They know it, we all know it. The government really need to think about it and think outside the box to really focus on this industry to take it forward because everybody gains in tourism. We believe that it is time to give back. We know what it is there to benefit. Everybody is involved. We are ready to continuously struggle and do whatever it will take to put us there as an association
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