One of the indices for the development of the urban centres, and to a large extent, the rural communities in Nigeria, is the hospitality industry.

 

 

 

The Nigerian hospitality industry is regulated by the multi-sectoral industry of tourism. The hospitality business is peculiar in the tourism sector which includes restaurants, catering, travel and tourism hotels and resorts, fast food outlets, night clubs, snack bars, guest houses, banquet halls and event tents, among others.

 

 

 

Really, the hospitality industry contributes to the growth of an economy by providing employment opportunities for the people, funding a large percentage of a country’s gross domestic product, GDP, thereby helping to raise the national income and by earning foreign exchange through the streams of visitors coming into the country.

 

 

 

The Nigerian hospitality industry is faced with a myriad of challenges ranging from poor energy supply and insecurity to misconstrued internal perception, flawed hotel classification, poor customer service, little or no standardization in operations, and inconsistent regulatory environment, among others.

 

 

 

Despite these glaring problems, people rely on the hospitality industry to fulfill their basic needs of transport, accommodation, food and entertainment for work and recreational purposes. The goal of the hospitality industry is, therefore, to provide customers with enjoyable experience. That enjoyment, no doubt, comes from eating a good meal, relaxing in a luxurious spa, or getting a good night’s rest away from home, making sure that each individual guest is taken care of which is of paramount importance.

 

Anambra State is blessed with several locations that can be developed to become major tourist and hospitality venue capable of attracting guests from within and outside the country. For instance, the famous Ogbunike Cave in Oyi Local

 

 

 

Government Area of Anambra State, if fully developed, is one major tourist centre that can attract a lot of foreign exchange to the state government.

 

 

 

There is the utmost need to site an international hospitality industry around the Ogbunike Cave vicinity to serve the interests of visitors, tourists and foreign travelers. There are also water falls in Umunze, Nanka, and Owerre Ezukall that can be developed as tourist attractions by the government.

 

 

 

On the other hand, the Omambala River and its basins, as well as other hilly slopes in parts of Anambra State, can become choice destinations of tourists when fully developed.

 

 

 

The defunct Uli Airstrip used during the Nigeria-Biafra War, can be made a tourist centre. Also, parts of the River Niger in Onitsha, can be developed as tourist centres, in view of the plethora of hotels in the commercial City.

 

 

 

One pitfall affecting the hospital industry is the dire lack of hotel directory in that sector. With occasional criminal activities in the State, there is need for a hotel directory in Anambra State to enable the government have a bird’s eye view of the number of hotels in the State. This will also facilitate revenue generation from the hospitality industry to the government coffers.

 

 

 

With this in place, hotels can now engage in online services, including booking of accommodations, for various activities by organizations, individuals and tourists. The directory will also help to curb insecurity and criminality in the sector.

 

However, government, on its part, should patronize the hospitality industry to help them generate revenue to meet its legitimate obligations to the state government.

 

 

 

Apart from these, government can also come up with policies that will address the poor state of electricity whether through hydro or solar power for the sustenance of the sector.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, to promote the hospitality business in Anambra State, money should be invested in it in order to fuel the business on a long-term basis. With the sector in place, Anambra state will be one of the most improved financial markets in Nigeria. It is true Nigeria is a petrol-related economy but economic diversification programmes in Anambra State, like the hospitality industry, will yield positive outcomes, particularly if the state government partners with the sector.

 

 

 

Government should, as a matter of urgency churn out easy and flexible business policies and programmes in the sector in order to impact on the industry. This is the only way the sector can withstand the rigours of the economic down turn in Nigeria.

 

 

 

 

Written by ABUCHI NWOZOR

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