Stakeholders laud merger of tourism, creative economy ministries

Stakeholders have applauded the federal government’s move to merge the Federal Ministries of Tourism and Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy as a step in the right direction. On Wednesday, President Tinubu’s administration announced the merger of the two ministries into the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy as part of his much-anticipated cabinet reshuffle.

The shuffle had the minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, disengaged alongside four other ministers. According to the presidency, the move is part of eight far-reaching actions to reinvigorate the Tinubu Administration’s capacity for optimal efficiency according to his commitment to deliver on his promises to Nigerians.

The stakeholders who spoke with the newsmen on Thursday said that having both culture and tourism in one ministry is the popular tide in many developed climes where arts, culture and tourism are the main drivers of economies. They said further that the merger would reduce the cost of governance, especially as the Federal Government was struggling with the paucity of funds, and as well bring a synergy of policies and programmes.

Mr Phil Roberts, Executive Director, of the Tourism Volunteers Network, said the fusion of tourism and culture would provide opportunity for concentrated leadership.

“For us tourism volunteers, the merger of the ministries of tourism and culture is a good move”

“ We want sincere, passionate and committed leadership that will carry the private sector along because tourism is private sector-driven.

“Tourism is not politics, and in countries like China, Morocco and others they bring in technocrats and industry players who are driven by an understanding of what tourism is all about to the national economy.

“Governments create an enabling environment for tourism to thrive, then work with stakeholders, especially in the private sector, who will help them run it,” he said.

Mrs  Sophia Khan, National President, of Women in Business and Tourism (WIBAT) in Nigeria, said culture provides attractions for tourism, and there was no need to separate them in the first place.

“It is a step in the right direction because it has always been culture and tourism, as culture creates the activity for tourism to showcase.

“There should not be any reason to separate them in the first place, so I think the president has done the right thing and with this, I believe the ministry will do better.

“However, we also demand purposeful leadership from those who are running the sector from ministry to parastatal levels because our tourism is supposed to be vibrant and bubbling.

“One of our greatest undoing in the tourism industry is that nobody is selling Nigeria, whether at the ministry level or agencies, they are playing politics with the sector,” she said.

Also, Agility Onwurah, President of Nollywood New Yam Festival and Awards, said Nigeria’s tourism is largely centred on cultural activities and there was a need to have culture and tourism under one ministry.

“It is the art and culture that promote tourism, and that is why we have cultural tourism, so I think two of them being together is the best thing.

“However, the truth about people not working has nothing to do with merging, because the two are very large industries that need competent and passionate people to run them.

“Tourism is a very large industry and many countries, even in Africa,  are doing well on it, and then the culture and creative economy is another big one.

“The two are supposed to be a sector that provides huge income and employment for our country if we have leaders with the character and will to do the right thing in running these sectors.

“We just need good drivers, people that are open to listen to advice,  bring innovation and get every stakeholder on board under an enabling environment,” he said.