Tourism for socio-economic development: The Ekiti State example (II)

The Growth forecasts for 2012, although lower than anticipated a year ago, are still positive at 2.8% in terms of the industry’s contribution to GDP. Longer-term prospects are even more positive with annual growth forecast to be 4.2% over the ten years to 2022. The above are worldwide figures and we need to zero in […]

The Growth forecasts for 2012, although lower than anticipated a year ago, are still positive at 2.8% in terms of the industry’s contribution to GDP. Longer-term prospects are even more positive with annual growth forecast to be 4.2% over the ten years to 2022.

The above are worldwide figures and we need to zero in on the Nigerian situation. According to Obinna Emelike of Business Day Newspaper, “the WTTC further forecasts in the report that in 2012 alone, some 897,500 jobs, representing 1.4 percent of Nigeria’s total engaged work-force will be generated from the travel and tourism industry. With about N1,232.2 billion (3.3 percent) contribution to the GDP in 2011; possible rise by 10.8 percent in 2012 and further increase by 7.0 percent annually to hit N2,690.8 billion in 2022, the Nigerian travel and tourism industry is fast opening up to huge investments.”

There is a social dimension to tourism growth. Employment is one of the most readily available indicators to begin measuring the social impact of tourism, since job creation generally helps create the opportunities for better standards of living and related conditions of socio-economic progress. In 2006, the tourism economy (direct and indirect contribution) provided jobs for about 140 million people in the selected sub-regions and countries of the Asian and Pacific region, representing an average of 8.9 per cent of total employment. This result can be attributed mainly to China, where 77.6 million people, approximately 1 in every 10 employed persons, worked in the tourism economy.

This is an important way of addressing the problems of the poor in the society. As we all know, poverty has its multiplier negative social effects on the society. When people are gainfully employed, they can feed themselves and as the Yoruba adage says, “tie bi ba kuro ninu ise, ise bu se.” Literally translated to mean, “with diminished hunger, poverty is alleviated.” Among the many different types of poor people that tourism can provide jobs  for are: staff, neighbouring communities, land-holders, producers of food, fuel and other suppliers, operators of micro-enterprises, informal businesses, craft-makers, other users of tourism infrastructure and resources, and so forth. This explains why some countries have been tagging tourism along with solving the problems of poverty; under the umbrage of what they term as Pro-Poor Tourism, which is an approach to tourism development and management that results in increased net benefits for poor people by enhancing linkages between tourism businesses and poor people. Its strategies focus on the local or community level and aim at increasing tourism’s contribution to poverty reduction and enabling poor people to participate more effectively in tourism development.

Let us look at the mechanism in place to do this in Ekiti state.

It gladdens my heart that the government of Ekiti State is giving tourism its rightful place in the development efforts of the state.  Tourism development is listed as the number seven (7) (I believe not in order of priority) in the Governors’ 8-Point Agenda. This is with the aim of making Ekiti State “one of the leading tourism destinations in Nigeria.”

Aside listing Tourism as one of the cardinal points for development, the Governor seems set to create a conducive and direly- needed institutional and policy environment for tourism to thrive. There is now in place a Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism, which seems to me to be in tandem with the National Structure. There is also direct provision of Budgetary Allocation to Tourism development with a capital vote of N146 million in 2011. Also of significance is the creation of the Bureau of Tourism Development, whose objectives and goals are, to make Ekiti State a most attractive destination for relaxation and holidays by building a heliport, world class hotel and accommodation facilities, developing Efon, Okemesi, Ikogosi, Ipole-Iloro tourism corridor.” When this is juxtaposed with the proposal to include 18-Hole Golf Course, Canopy Walk, Family Arcades and Sporting facilities in the designated corridor, the road seems clear for a proper take-off. This is not a mean vision which, if properly and carefully implemented, can turn around the economy of the state and satisfy some other socio-economic needs and development.

It appears persuasive that that the state is on its way to utilising the dormant potentials of tourism for her socio-economic development.

Having looked at the potentials and realities of tourism in the world, Nigeria and Ekiti state, I am convinced that all that remains is for us to move on from where we are now. On the basis of this, I recommend that government should consider the following recommendations:

1. Put in place a robust and clear Tourism Development Strategy. By this I mean a Strategy that will include the details of what is to be done and the approaches to be used within a given time-frame. This will help in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Strategy.

2. Increase the budgetary allocation to tourism so that it can achieve its full potentials. This is with the knowledge that whatever is invested into tourism will surely yield good socio-economic results that will lead to rapid development of the state.

3. Put in place adequate legislation to curtail the many “negative externalities,” in particular, negative social and environmental impacts that may emanate during implementation

4. Intensify efforts at involving and partnering with the private sector for the injection of sufficient capital into the industry

5. Commence, without delay, an aggressive infrastructural development in the state, with particular emphasis on the tourism corridor.

I am convinced that if Government combines the recommendations given above with what is already in place, the State will reap the following benefits; generate revenue, grow jobs, promote  unity and understanding among the citizens (within the state, nationally and internationally), attract investors, promote good image for the state, alleviate grass-root poverty and establish sustainable peace in the state.

Concluded