Nigeria is seeking to leverage China’s tourism development experience to convert its vast tourism assets into sustainable economic value, with the Federal Government and industry stakeholders identifying skills development, investment, digital innovation, destination management and stronger institutions as critical to unlocking the sector’s potential.
The Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Dr Abisoye Fagade, made this known on Tuesday at a seminar on China’s Tourism Development Experience, organised by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria in collaboration with NIHOTOUR and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja.
The seminar is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and expand practical cooperation between Nigeria and China, particularly in tourism education, hospitality, destination development and investment.
Fagade said his recent participation in a tourism development programme in Beijing gave him first-hand insight into how China had 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,’ he said.
He said Nigeria could draw valuable lessons from China while developing a tourism model suited to the country’s realities.
‘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.
According to him, the implementation of the NIHOTOUR Act provides an institutional foundation for strengthening professionalism, skills development and standards in 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,’ he said.
Fagade said there was considerable scope for deeper cooperation between NIHOTOUR and Chinese tourism institutions, particularly the China Tourism Academy and other relevant institutions, in professional training, curriculum development, tourism research, digital transformation, rural and cultural tourism, destination management and knowledge exchange.
He said the growing relationship between Nigeria and China could be used to translate diplomatic ties into tangible benefits, including skills, investment, jobs, stronger institutions and sustainable tourism development.
Earlier, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, Yang Jianxing, said China and Nigeria possessed immense potential for tourism development, given their long histories, diverse cultures and abundant tourism resources.
He said tourism remained a vital bridge connecting people, nations and civilisations, adding that China was willing to deepen tourism exchanges and cooperation with Nigeria.
Yang noted that China had accumulated extensive experience in public tourism services, destination development, integration of culture and tourism, smart tourism, market promotion and talent cultivation.
He said the seminar was intended to facilitate mutual learning rather than present China’s experience as a one-way model for Nigeria.
‘We look forward to both sides strengthening exchanges and deepening cooperation in areas such as tourism talent development, vocational tourism education, hotel management, eco-tourism, cultural heritage preservation, tourism digitalisation, destination marketing, and business partnerships,’ Yang said.
He said such cooperation could transform the respective strengths of Nigeria and China into drivers of shared development.
The Chinese diplomat also noted that the seminar was taking place as both countries mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and during the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
According to him, cooperation between the two countries has expanded over the years into areas including culture, education and tourism, with the heads of state of both countries attaching importance to people-to-people exchanges.
Representing the Director-General of the NTDA, Dr Olayiwola Nurudeen Awakan, the Director of Human Resources Management, Mr Oladipo, said China’s transformation into one of the world’s leading tourism destinations offered valuable lessons for Nigeria.
He explained that Awakan was unable to attend the seminar because he was on a working visit to China, where he was engaging tourism institutions and stakeholders on initiatives to strengthen Nigeria’s tourism sector.
He said the NTDA was particularly interested in China’s experience in strategic tourism planning, infrastructure development, investment, destination branding, digital innovation, human capital development and public-private sector collaboration.
‘China’s remarkable transformation into one of the world’s leading tourism destinations offers valuable lessons for Nigeria,’ he said.
‘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 socio-economic context.’
The NTDA representative said the seminar would also provide an opportunity to identify practical areas for increased cooperation, including tourism investment, capacity building, destination development, cultural exchanges, research, innovation and increased tourist flows between Nigeria and China.
He said the NTDA remained committed to strengthening partnerships with NIHOTOUR, the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria and other stakeholders to position Nigeria as a more competitive, attractive and sustainable tourism destination.
He added that stronger cooperation would also create opportunities for Nigerians to experience and appreciate China’s tourism offerings.
Yang further expressed the hope that the seminar would expand participation beyond government institutions to include tourism enterprises, research organisations and young professionals.
He said tourism was capable of creating jobs and fostering economic growth while bringing people from different countries closer through greater understanding and appreciation of their cultures.