Stakeholders advocate visa policy review to boost tourism

• Published On: 11 August 2024 at 15:19

Stakeholders in Nigeria's tourism and hospitality sectors have requested that visa laws be reviewed in order to promote the industry.

According to The Punch, the stakeholders made the plea during a recent summit hosted by Vertiline Synergy Limited in Lagos.

They lamented the arduous procedure that specialists had to go through to secure a visa, underlining that this had contributed to the tourism industry's deteriorating fortunes, which they suggested could be an alternative source of cash for the government.

Sally Okpo, Founder of Suffy Travels Limited, delivered a keynote talk and stated that the tourist industry has a number of obstacles, including an infrastructural shortfall, economic issues, and stringent visa policies.

Okpo added that another issue contributing to the tourism industry's downfall is Nigerians' negative perceptions of their country.

She stated, "The proper development of tourism may make it a key economic driver. However, there are challenges. Infrastructure need development, and worldwide image, which frequently focuses on negative perceptions, particularly those propagated by Nigerians, must be halted.

"Addressing these difficulties is critical to realizing the tourism industry's full potential. The government should support tourism's economic growth by establishing infrastructure such as good roads, hotel facilities, energy, and water.

"Our visa regime is really strict. Obtaining a visa is really difficult. We need to form bilateral partnerships with other countries so that they can visit our country without a visa.

"We should consider forming alliances with nations that enable Nigerians to enter without a visa, and we should reciprocate with other countries. This would help us increase tourism in Nigeria."

Meanwhile, Sharon Ashinze, Managing Partner of Vertiline Synergy Limited, stated that, in addition to addressing the region's problems with insecurity and a faltering economy, the government should simplify the visa application process to eliminate barriers that applicants frequently face.

Ashinze stated, "If you want to promote tourism in your country, everything should be simple. Even if you have strict visa policies, there should be no bottlenecks.

"If the procedure is online, make everything online so that whatever I want to do can be done there. Delays in issuing visas should also be addressed.

In her remarks, Minister of Tourism Lola Ade-John, who was represented by her Special Adviser on Media, Elizabeth Ofili, indicated that the ministry is working with the Ministry of Interior to ensure that the rigorous visa restrictions are reviewed.

She highlighted the tourism sector's investment opportunities and asked players to collaborate with the government to fulfill its full potential.

"Some adjustments have already been implemented to make the procedure easier. We're collaborating with the relevant ministries to explore how we can make the process easier. Nigeria is at the forefront of Africa's hospitality scene, with plenty of investment opportunities.