Private sector In toursim awareness

From my last post,while government should not only create  awareness but also create an enabling environment,provide infrastructure,make policies, regulate and enforce the policies, the private sector plays a key role in supply of tourism and should complement efforts by the government to create awareness.

Let me first categorize supply of tourism by the private sector as stakeholders of
* Natural and Man-made Resource: all kinds of attractions,i.e resorts,game reserves,Parks, museums, just to mention a few.
*Receptive Facilities: accommodation(hotels), food and beverage establishments
*Tourism Receptive Services: travel agents,tourist offices, car hire companies, guides,interpreters and visitor managers.
*Entertainment and Sports Facilities: which provide a focus for tourist’ activities. 

Organizations in  sub-sector and all four sub sectors above need to pull in the same direction, work towards common goals to market and promote destinations in Nigeria to Nigerians and foreigners living in Nigeria. For example a hotel or car-hire company partners with a tour operator or management of an attraction to market its tour or attraction to its guests or passengers as the case maybe.

Also,organizations should recognize the evolving patterns, trends and need for innovation to address market conditions, since they deal directly with tourist/travelers. Stakeholders,
Lastly, as a service industry quality customer service is paramount  objective of any organization in any tourism business so that  when tourists eventually visit an attraction or destination they have reasons to make referrals and help market to and  family, friends etc.Therefore, managers and operators need to re-emphasize the importance of managerial skills i.e interpersonal, informative and decision roles.

Now Nigeria is blessed with a plethora of attractions and we have the market, this gives for loads of  opportunities in tourism sector in the country. Private should do their bit in promoting tourism domestically, they should be innovative, keep things local and  look at sustainability from the beginning.The likes of Disneyland , Taj mahal palace hotel Indian and Sun city resort South Africa are man made and privately owned, all three keeps things local and are known worldwide..

Next I would look at how Nigerians as domestic tourists and host can contribute to the tourism industry.