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The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Abisoye Fagade, has said that Nigeria needs to learn from the Chinese model of tourism development in order to reposition the sector for job creation, human capital development, enterprise, investment, and diversification.
Fagade, who spoke at a seminar on ‘China’s Tourism Development Experience’ organised by the Chinese Cultural Centre in Nigeria and NIHOTOUR in Abuja, also said China’s experience should not be copied mechanically.
“We should learn from what China has done, adapt the lessons to Nigeria’s realities, and build a uniquely Nigerian tourism model,” Fagade said.
He explained that the seminar was timely, happening at a time when, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the country is pursuing a new economic direction in which job creation, human capital development, enterprise, investment and diversification are central to building a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.
“Tourism has a critical role to play in that vision,” Fagade also said.
He recalled his recent participation in a tourism development programme in Beijing, saying that the seminar gave him the opportunity to see first-hand how China has deliberately deployed tourism as an instrument of economic development, cultural preservation, rural revitalisation, skills development and community prosperity.
“The experience reinforced a conviction I have long held: Nigeria does not lack tourism assets. What we must strengthen is the system that converts those assets into sustainable economic value.
“That is where NIHOTOUR and the implementation of the NIHOTOUR Act become particularly important.
“The Act provides an institutional foundation for strengthening professionalism, skills development and standards within Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry. Our responsibility at NIHOTOUR is therefore not simply to train people. It is to help build the skilled workforce, professional culture and institutional capacity required to make tourism a serious contributor to the Nigerian economy.
“Our growing relationship with China presents an important opportunity in this regard.
“During my recent engagement in Beijing, I saw considerable scope for deeper cooperation between NIHOTOUR and Chinese tourism institutions, particularly CACTA and the China Tourism Academy, in areas such as professional training, curriculum development, tourism research, digital transformation, rural and cultural tourism, destination management and knowledge exchange,” he further said.
Also speaking, the President of the China Tourism Academy and Director of the Data Center of China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Dai Bin, listed measures Nigeria can apply to unlock the tourism potential of the country in order to improve the country’s economy.
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Dai said insecurity, inadequate infrastructure and lack of awareness of Nigeria’s tourism attractions were part of the important challenges militating against the development of the tourism sector in the country.
He, however, said the country needed to educate and enlighten Nigerians about tourist destinations in the country in order to encourage local tourism.
On his part, the Cultural Counsellor, China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, said tourism served as a vital bridge connecting people, nations and civilisations.
Yang also said both China and Nigeria are nations with long histories, diverse cultures and abundant tourism resources.
“Whether it is China’s magnificent landscapes and profound history and culture, or Nigeria’s rich natural scenery, vibrant ethnic cultures, and hospitable people, both countries possess immense potential for tourism development,” Yang said.
The Cultural Counsellor further recalled that this year marked the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria, as well as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
He stated that over the past 55 years, the friendship between our two nations has deepened, and cooperation in fields such as culture, education, and tourism has grown increasingly close.
“The heads of state of both countries attach great importance to people-to-people exchanges and tourism cooperation. In recent years, China and Nigeria have engaged in active exchanges regarding tourism education, hotel management, talent development, and destination promotion. This seminar represents a beneficial initiative to foster mutual learning and shared development within the tourism industries of both countries.
“After years of development, China’s tourism industry has accumulated a wealth of experience in areas such as public tourism services, destination development, the integration of culture and tourism, smart tourism, market promotion, and talent cultivation,” he added.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Ola Awakan, said China’s remarkable transformation into one of the world’s leading tourism destinations offered valuable lessons for Nigeria.
“Its experience demonstrates the importance of strategic tourism planning, infrastructure development, investment, destination branding, digital innovation, human capital development and strong public-private sector collaboration.
“As Nigeria seeks to unlock the full potential of tourism as a driver of economic diversification, cultural diplomacy and sustainable development, there is much we can learn from China’s experience, while adapting relevant approaches to our own unique cultural, natural and socioeconomic context,” Awokan said.
