SMW: Let’s grow creative industry for tourism — Stakeholders
Economy
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Feb. 25, 2020 (NAN) Some tourism stakeholders on Tuesday in Lagos urged Nigeria to develop its arts, cultural and creative industries for social and economic growth.
The stakeholders made the call during a panel discussion on “The Value of the Nigerian Cultural Economy for the Travel” at the ongoing Social Media Week.
The panelists said that going beyond the traditional, they were curious on the contribution the culture industries (art, music and fashion) could make in promoting travel into Nigeria.
According to the participants, by 2030, consumer spending on tourism, hospitality and recreation in Africa is projected to reach about $261.77 billion, $137.87 billion more than what was recorded in 2015.
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Ojomai Ochai, Director Programmes, British Council, said there were lots of potential waiting to be harnessed from the industry.
She said she was saddened that Nigeria, being the biggest market in Africa, with its huge population, was unable to grow its cultural industries and make money out of it.
“As a market, there is a lot of development that has to happen in just getting people to recognise the intrinsic value that art has to make us better.
“There is a whole lot of exportation and value system through the cultural industries when harnessed.
“In terms of economic and other value, which is important; I always tell people that the creative economy of the UK is one third, 33 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP annually and Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa.
” But 33 per cent of our GDP is the size of the UK contribution of the creative industries to that economy and the population of the UK is less than Nigeria’s population.
” It is critical for us to develop the sector if we want to want to make money,” she said
Ochai, therefore, advised that beyond thinking about the economic and value aspect of these sectors, how the sector had influenced on the the people should also be looked into.
Also, Ms Lola Emeruwa, Founder of WISH Africa, a social enterprise focused on promoting African stories, said Nigeria should convert its local population, their pattern and behavior into business.
“When you talk about economy, you are talking about co-modification of culture.
” What technology represents in the story telling is access, it brings what ever it is that a country have to the world to see.
“Once its on social media, anybody in the world can see it and the idea is that the more you expose people to the better part of a country or culture, the more people get to meet and see these opportunities,” she said.
Mrs Prisca Omenai-N’Guessan, Head of Sales, BTM Limited, said technology had made travelling easier and had also showcased what was available in Nigeria.
According to her, travelling in Nigeria is getting higher because people want to know what is out there.
“People are watching TV and with that knowledge they want to know the potential that is out there.
” However, it is important that we introduce children to travelling, not just taking then to another country but also letting then experience part of the culture that the country has.
“So if they are going to London for instance, don’t just take them to family house, let them experience what London is like, there is so much they can learn that will boost their intellectuals,” she said. (NAN)
LED/BOLA/WOJ
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Wale Ojetimi
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