TRAVELS & TOURS

Travels and tours are veritable arm of the hospitality industry but have been maligned over time and relegated to the background. Not minding the fact that this was not on my mind when I left Lagos on Friday for my nephew's wedding in Akure, it is vital we spend some time in evaluating the pathway to the hospitality industry. By 2pm I was already at Berger enroute my destination, when I checked my dashboard clock some few meters after the redemption camp gate it was 6:15pm! You can do the summation of the unproductive hours spent in the convention inspired human and vehicular traffic.

The logical route to Akure would have been through Ibadan and Ilesha, but we were told that the Osun State border has been sealed off because of the gubernatorial election. So we detoured at Sagamu and took on the infamous Benin-Ore road. Travelling on that road at daytime is risky enough; embarking on such trip at night and on that treacherous road is suicidal. From the deplorable condition of the road to the presence of heavy duty trucks, they all contributed to making the journey a harrowing experience. By 11:15pm, when we finally arrived at Akure, the car’s suspension and train system was already on edge.

For a country that has been spending resources in attracting foreign investors and have a non-committed policy towards developing the hospitality industry, our preparation to host the expected foreign investors appear inadequate. Without a good road network and a set standard in the industry, we seem to have put the cart before the horse in our attempt to market our tourist attractions, expose the hotel industry to massive fund injection and technical expertise. Under the above mentioned appalling conditions, it will be a herculean task convincing the outside world of our seriousness towards social and infrastructural developments.

Awareness of our tourists’ attractions spread all over the country from Ikogosi cold and warm spring fountain to the Obudu cattle ranch is very low. So also is our interest in visiting these sites. Travels and tours within the country in comparison to our foreign pleasure trips stand at a 20:80 ratio. And this is due more to the state of our infrastructure than any patriotic zeal. The hotels in the country have not fared any better, as discrepancy in service delivery standards across hotels is quite noticeable. In the civilized world, service delivery in hotels is almost the same and where you will notice difference will be in terms of infrastructure and amenities which is proportionally tied to rates and hotel classification.

On a last note, we must rid our society of spiritual slavery, physical developmental abuse and overbearing governmental insensitivities. Until then.