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| Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison |
Leisure travellers and tourists in the country may be in for special
packages in a strategic partnership currently being worked out between
airlines and the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).
The package, which includes a destination of choice, tour, two nights
hotel stay and return ticket, will cost about N50, 000 per person.
The partnership, all things being equal, is aimed at driving the
tourism industry, with increased patronage for airlines, hotels and
other related service providers.
Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Capt. Nogie
Meggison, said the initiative was their effort to jumpstart domestic
tourism in the country thereby also encouraging more Nigerians to fly to
various tourism destinations around the country rather than travel
abroad for their holidays.
It will be recalled that the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)
recently estimated that air travel and tourism in Nigeria contributed
1.7 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), being $7.5
billion in 2016. Stakeholders said the figures were poor given the high
population in Nigeria.
Meggison, at a meeting with the Director General of the NTDC,
Folorunso Coker, noted that aviation and tourism are two sides of the
same coin which go hand-in-hand and can help to develop both sectors in a
mutually beneficial manner.
According to him, “It is a well known fact that airlines help to
build tourism. For instance, a clear example was during the closure of
Abuja airport; many of the leading hotels in Abuja lost a lot of
patronage from about 80 per cent occupancy to well below 20 per cent.
“This also had a ripple effect on car hire and taxi operators,
restaurants, a drop in taxes and had an effect on the GDP and several
other businesses in the service industry. This underscores how important
aviation is to tourism and hospitality,” Meggison said.
The chairman assured that such a partnership will be a gain for Nigeria; with win-win situation for the airlines, tourism and hospitality sector, whereby the airlines will be able to attract more passengers.
“We can start from Abuja especially during weekends when the traffic
outbound from Lagos into Abuja is usually low and hotel occupancy
equally poor.
“On our part as airlines, one major way that government can assist
domestic operators is by removing all 37 multiple taxes that are heavy
burdens on domestic operators thereby allowing airlines to offer just
our cost air fares.
“Hotels should also drop their prices to the cost for a bed &
breakfast, and we together can target to offer two nights with return
flight ticket Lagos – Abuja for N50, 000 all inclusive as our own
contribution in getting the economy back on track. The package could be
sold through the NTDC platform only.
“Other tourist sites, locations, restaurants, eateries, bar, social
clubs, night clubs should be encouraged to offer same at cost price as a
contribution for now to jump start our economy,” he said.
Apparently in agreement, NTDC DG, Coker, noted that Nigeria is
blessed with so many tourist sites, festivals, events and places of
interests which people would love to go.
He added that this could be achieved, if the tourism and hospitality
industries, in partnership with the entertainment sector, work in sync
with the airlines.
Coker said: “Families can take advantage of various festivals,
carnivals and events around the country the year round to go on holiday
and relax and have fun.
For instance, hotels can partner with airlines
and the tourism authority to arrange package tours for couples, family
or groups to visit the Calabar Carnival or Obudu Cattle Ranch, or spend a
weekend for two in Abuja, or go and enjoy the scenery at the Eyo
Festival in Lagos. Corporate Organisations can also hold their Retreats
or annual Conventions at many of these destinations,” he said.
