Ekene Okafor, Lagos
The Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) has announced plans to reposition itself as a driving force in the country’s tourism sector after being inactive for nearly 25 years.
ATPN President Prince Femi Fadina said this during a breakfast meeting with the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET) held recently in Lagos.
He said that since the assuming office, in November 2024, he has evaluated the association’s challenges and designed a clear revival roadmap.
Three Pillars of Revival
According to Fadina, ATPN’s revival strategy rests on three key pillars: Organic Membership Growth – encouraging practitioners to contribute their expertise and capacity to strengthen the association and Capacity Building – equipping members with training and skills relevant to both domestic and international tourism practice.
The third one is Corporate Sponsorship & Structural Compliance – streamlining internal processes, enforcing membership dues, and attracting partnerships to ensure financial sustainability.
“Membership must mean value. You can not be part of the association without compliance. Payment is membership, and compliance is non-negotiable,” Fadina emphasized.
Transparency and Inclusiveness
Fadina described ATPN as a “family working through disputes,” stressing that transparency, accountability, and adherence to constitutional principles will be central to his leadership.
He further defined tourism practitioners as inclusive of travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers, airlines, cultural custodians, and students seeking certification.
Fadina also highlighted grassroots workers, narrating how he once met a hotel receptionist sleeping on the floor in Abuja.
“Those are the kinds of people I want to fight for — to ensure better welfare and service standards,” he said.
Setting the Agenda
The ATPN president outlined his priorities: compliance enforcement, structural development, onboarding of certified practitioners, and advocacy for member welfare.
Drawing from his experiences in Gambia, Barbados, South Africa, and 15 years as Deputy President of the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), Fadina argued that Nigeria’s tourism industry has the potential to become globally competitive if properly structured.
“What I saw in Gambia with their small population of 1.6 million showed me what structure can achieve. If we put the same systems in place here in Nigeria with our capacity, we will go very far,” he said.
Looking Ahead
Although ATPN currently has “very few paying members,” Fadina expressed confidence that by next year, the association would emerge stronger, more structured, and capable of influencing tourism policy.
“In this sector, sustainability is non-negotiable. We must bring up young people, mentor them, and hand over a system stronger than we met it. By the special grace of God, this time next year, you will sing a new tune about ATPN,” he assured.