THE NEED TO ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN BAYELSA STATE
BEING A PAPER PRESENTED BY YAHAYA EZEEMOO NDU AT THE BAYELSA STATE TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS FORUM AT THE BANQUET HALL,GOVERNMENT HOUSE, YENEGOA ON THE OCCASION OF THE IST BAYELSA STATE TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS FORUM ON THE 26TH OF SEPTEMBER 2012.
INTRODUCTION.
I was the guest speaker at the Badagry Festival which kicked off on Friday the 17thand ended on Saturday, the 25th,August , 2012 at the ancient Kingdom of Badagry in Lagos State of Nigeria organized by the African Renaissance Foundation[AREFO].When I received the invitation of Hon. Nelson Belief the Hon. Commissioner of Tourism of Bayelsa State for this conference which was originally to start on the same 17th of August which clashed with the Badagry Festival,, I had quickly arranged for a lecturer friend of mine who shares my faith in African renaissance to represent me and read my paper at the said event. The title of the paper I prepared for that event was: AFRICAN HERITAGE TOURISM, A PROSPECT FOR WEALTH CREATION IN ANCIENT/HISTORICAL COMMUNITIES OF NIGERIA:BADAGRY COMMUNITY AS CASE STUDY, luckily however, this event was postponed to today and here we are.
I am pleased to be here for several reasons.
1,I have for many years been yearning to be part of the positive action towards development of the Tourism industry of the Niger Delta in general and Bayelsa state in particular. In fact, for over two years now[from the time of the previous administration]I had been working to first of all organize a Bayelsa state Culture and Tourism Endowment Fund, to raise funds to practically jump start the massive development of the tremendous tourism potentials of the state.
2,Since charity they say begins at home and Bayelsa is the home state of the current president of Nigeria, we the committed tourism practitioners of Nigeria who have always advocated that tourism is the industry with the capacity to completely eradicate unemployment in Nigeria and open up the Nation to massive foreign exchange generation far in excess of that from oil, a successful turn around of the Bayelsa economy will help convince the president to stir the nation towards the tourism salvation for its economic and other problems.
TOURISM POTENTIALS OF BAYELSA STATE.
One cannot but agree with the defunct Bayelsa Sate Tourism Development and Publicity bureau when it says in its beautiful handbook entitled EXPERIENCE BAYELSA: Bayelsa State with its unique aquatic splendor, beautiful vegetation, fascinating culture and history, offers an extraordinary array of tourism opportunities. In fact, it has the potential to become the tourism destination of choice in Nigeria, capable of attracting visitors from other parts of Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. At present, Bayelsa's fresh water and marine sand beaches are grossly overlooked, as is its cultural heritage.
The topic that has been assigned to me to speak on this stakeholders forum is: THE NEED TO ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN BAYELSA STATE, however, in my paper, I shall endeavor to go a little beyond the NEED to encourage sustainable tourism in Bayelsa State, and include the HOW to sustain the tourism development in the state.
In Nigeria, we have been speaking for far too long about our tourism potentials and what these potentials could do for us if developed. I make bold to say that it is time to move beyond rhetoric to practicality. Why are we always talking about what we can and shall do in this country? When shall we begin the doing? What are we waiting for?
The World Tourism Organization [WTO] estimates that tourism accounts for up to 10% of global gross domestic product, making it the world's biggest industry. The potential for tourism to contribute significantly to poverty alleviation is considerable.
The WTO's report on Tourism and Poverty Alleviation published for the World Summit on Sustainable development in Johannesburg in 2002 drew substantially on the work of the Pro-Poor Tourism Partnership and there are now a range of initiatives taking place on pro-poor tourism.
It must be clarified however that Pro-Poor tourism is not a specific tourism product, rather, it is a humane approach to tourism development and management which ensures or at least strives to ensure, that local poor people are enabled to practically secure economic benefits from tourism in a fair, equitable and sustainable manner.
In this regard, Pro-Poor tourism may improve the livelihoods of poor people in many principal ways:
1,Economic gain through employment generation as well as development of micro enterprises.
2,Improved infrastructure which include roads , electricity, water, waste disposal and management ,telecommunications, security, e.t.c.
3,Democratic empowerment through engagement of the people in decision making.
The tourism industry needs to operate in environments which are attractive and friendly to tourists. It necessarily demands an educated work force, adequate and functioning health delivery system, good transport, telecommunications, potable water supply and stable power.
These facilities that the tourism industry needs are of course also useful to the local communities .Naturally, there are attendant risks as well as opportunities in the tourism industry as in all industries which tourism practitioners, such as tour operators, hoteliers, developers, and even financiers must take into consideration and evolve ways to deal with.
ADVANTAGES OF TOURISM GENERALLY.
According to the Report of the WTO to the United nations Secretary-General in Preparation for the High Level Meeting on the Mid-Term Comprehensive Global Review of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010:
Tourism has been increasingly recognized for its economic potential to contribute to the reduction of poverty in developing countries. Its geographical expansion and labor intensive nature support a spread of employment and can be particularly relevant in remote and rural areas, where live three quarters of the two billion people under extreme poverty conditions.
There are several reasons that make tourism an especially suitable economic development sector for the least developed countries.
1,Tourism is consumed at the point of production; the tourist has to go to the destination and spend his/her money there, opening an opportunity for local businesses of all sorts, and allowing local communities to benefit through the informal economy, by selling goods and services directly to visitors.
2,Most least developed countries have a comparative advantage in tourism over developed countries. They have assets of enormous value to the tourism industry-culture, art, music, natural landscapes, wildlife, and climate, including World Heritage Sites. Visits by tourists to such sites can generate employment and income for communities as well as helping in the conservation of cultural and natural assets.
3,Tourism is a more diverse industry than many others. It has the potential to support other economic activities, both through providing flexible, part time jobs that can complement other livelihood options, and through creating income throughout a complex supply chain of goods and services.
4,Tourism is labor intensive, which is particularly important in tackling poverty. It also provides a wide range of different employment opportunities especially for women and young people-from the highly skilled to the unskilled- and generally it requires relatively little training.
5,It creates opportunities for many small and micro entrepreneurs, either in the formal or informal economy; it is an industry in which start-up costs and barriers to entry are generally low or can easily be lowered.
6,Tourism provides not only material benefits for the poor but also cultural pride. It creates greater awareness of the natural environment and its economic value, a sense of ownership and reduced vulnerability through diversifications of income sources.
When one considers the financial gains that many nations and states in the world are deriving from the tourism, it is a surprise that other communities in search of alternative means of earnings and with comparative advantages in tourism such as Bayelsa state are not looking seriously enough in tourism directions.
With 76.8 million visitors in 2004, Florida is the top travel destination in the world. The tourism industry has an economic impact of $57 billion on Florida economy.
Thailand recorded a 31% increase in tourism receipts in 2011 over 2010, according to Ministry of Tourism and Sports figures. The total earning of 776 billion baht[US $25.45 billion] were well above the original target of 716 billion baht[US$23billion].
TOURISM POTENTIAL, ATTRACTIONS AND ENDOWMENTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUCILS OF BAYELSA STATE.
The point cannot be overemphasized that the natural and practical course for tourism development at least as far as human experience goes is from bottom up-from local communities to the state. Therefore, the quest for tourism development in Bayelsa state to succeed must start from the local communities level to the wards, to the local councils and thence the larger state.
It is in the local communities that the overwhelming quantum of the natural tourism endowments, attractions and potentials are to be found. It is the local communities that generate all the cultural and traditional attractions that tourists seek.
Perhaps, that may account for why the Bayelsa State Ministry of Tourism Development chose as theme for her 1st Tourism stakeholders Forum: A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN BAYELSA STATE.
As the International Council for Local Environmental Challenge [ICLEI] says: A primary challenge of local governance, both today and in decades ahead, is to steer increasingly external, global forces on local development so that development achieves the shared vision of the local population. In cities, towns and villages throughout the world, the primary responsibility for this steering process rests with the institution of local government and its diverse local authorities….
The true proof of sustainable tourism will be the sustainable development of local communities that are tourist destinations.
It goes without saying therefore that if indeed Bayelsa State wants to develop and sustain tourism development it must make her local government areas and the communities that comprise them the foundations for its tourism super structure-the grassroots direction.
I have long held this view as I know it to be true. In fact I have the honor of haven organized the 1st All Nigerian Local Governments Tourism Workshop in Nigeria. The workshop which I organized under the auspices of the African Tourist Palaces[ATP] and the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria[ATPN], held in July 1993 at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel ,Enugu.
Not only should Bayelsa state make its local government areas the fulcrum of its sustainable tourism agenda, the state should also I recommend, organize annually, All Nigerian Local Government Tourism Workshops and Exhibitions as a means to both expose her local governments to best practices in local tourism development, and also offer the rest of Nigeria the proper leadership in tourism development that the nation has been yeaning for in her quest for alternative revenue generation and massive employment creation and open up the rural communities.
A LOOK AT THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BEACH RESORTS IN THE WORLD WITH THE SAME NATURAL FEATURES AS THAT OF THE BEACHES OF BAYELSA STATE.
As Bayelsa tourism handbook referred to earlier states on beaches: The major freshwater beaches along the River Nun can be developed for increased leisure activities including boat trips, recreational fishing, beach parties and general relaxation in a natural environment. Similarly, Bayelsa's extensive coastline of fine sandy beaches could be more resourcefully utilized. The major marine beaches have the capacity to be developed to an international standard. A Riviera could be established at the open and inland beaches in the Okpoama/Twon Brass/Akassa/Koluama axis. International-class holiday resorts and conference centers could also be built.
Increasingly, over the years, the coastal counties in the world are shifting from traditional maritime activities such as fishing and boating, to a more service-oriented, and tourism-dependent economy. A key to economic growth in the coastal states has been the strength of the travel and tourist industry.
CNN GO says of beaches:
When sea meets sand, beautiful things can happen….
Beaches are the valium of the travel world. They soothe, they relax, they make you realize that 'real life' occasionally needs escaping…
Most of all, these silvers of sand against the ocean are a reminder that the world can be quite beautiful.
Some of the world's best beaches are:
*Pigeon Point-Trinidad and Tobago,*Praia do Sancho-Fernando de Noronha, Brazil,*Hot Water Beach, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand,*Bottom Bay, Barbados,*Paradise Beach, Rab, Croatia,*Lover's Beach, Baja California Sur, Mexico,*Byron Bay, Australia,*An Bang Beach, Hoi An, Vietnam,*Bandon Oregon, United States,*Puka Beach, Boracay, Philippines,*Las Salinas, Ibiza, Spain,*Cape Maclear, Malawi,*Jeffreys Bay, South Africa,*Capo Sant'Andrea, Elba, Italy,*Venice Beach, California, United States,*Plage de Piemanson, France,*Kaiteriteri Beach, Nelson, New Zealand,*Southwestern Beach, Koh Rong, Cambodia,*Skagen Beach, Denmark,*Isshiki Beach, Japan,*Haad Rin, Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand,*Beidaihe, China,*Na'ama Bay, Sharm el sheikh, Egypt.*Akajima, Okinawa, Japan.*Phra Nang Beach, Railay, Thailand.*Cavendish Beach, Prince Edward Island, Canada,*Panama City Beach, Florida, United States,*Porto da Barra, Salvador, Brazil,*Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi, Malaysia,*Patnem Beach, Gao, India,*D-Day beaches, Normandy, France,*Dominical Beach, Costa Rica,*Canggu Beach, Bali, Indonesia,*Karekare , west Auckland, New Zealand.*Bahia Solano, Colombia.*Margaret River Beach, Australia.*Playa Paraiso, Cayo Largo, Cuba,*Hanalei Bay, Hawaii, United States,*Sun Island Beach, Maldives,*Nungwi, Zanzibar,*Boulders Beach, Cape Town, South Africa,*Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos,*Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi, Thailand,*Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Malaysia,*Tulum, Mexico,*Whitehaven Beach, Queensland, Australia,*Champagne Beach, Vanuatu,*Anse Source d'Argent, Seychelles,*Mativa Beach, Bora Bora, Tahiti
BAYELSA WATER WAYS-LEADING MARINE TOURISM, IN NIGERIA AND AFRICA.
According to New Nigeria BlogSpot:
Nigeria has the second longest length of waterways in Africa. It has 8,600 kilometers of inland waterways and an extensive coastline of about 852 kilometers.
Nigeria's waterways centre on its longest rivers, Rivers Niger and Benue ,which dissect the country into east, west and north sections. The two rivers run into each other at Lokoja and flow into the Atlantic ocean. The coastal waterways extend from Badagry through Warri to Calabar.
Most of the activity on the country's waterways, especially by larger powered boats and for commerce, is in the Niger Delta and all along the coast from Lagos lagoon to Cross River.
However water transport scores a distant second to road transport, with an average share of about1.6 per cent of Nigeria's gross domestic product. Water transport is slow and while unsuitable for passenger movement, an efficient coastal and inland waterway system can relieve pressure in a country's rail and road transport infrastructure.
Inland water transport is advantageous in terms of costs of moving heavy traffic, especially where speed is less important than cost. A single 15-barge tow is equivalent to about 225 railroad cars or 870 tractor-trailer trucks.
The Nigerian inland waterways despite its great potentials are underutilized and underdeveloped. The Federal Government hopes to reverse this and has recently signed a NB34.8bn contract for the dredging of the Lower Niger. The project covers about 572 kilometers of waterways that stretches from Warri in Delta state to Baro in Niger state.
LUXURY YATCHS, LUXURY BOATS AND SHIPS FROM BAYELSA TO OTHER PARTS OF NIGERIA, AND AFRICA.
Bayelsa state should be for Nigerian water transportation sector what the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja are for air transport in Nigeria.
The Bayelsa Transport corporation should be expanded and empowered to provide comfortable and state of the art and tourist friendly water vessels, such as boats, yachts, luxury ships. et.c. to transport tourists in style from Bayelsa waterways to all the navigable inland water ways in Nigeria, west Africa , the rest of Africa and the Caribbean and other Black Diaspora countries on earth.
Luxury yacht , luxury ships and luxury boats are a phenomenon that is playing significant roles in modern tourism industry and Bayelsa state with its peculiar maritime nature is suited to take advantage of the opportunities offered by these.
See the description of a luxury yacht for instance:
The Tropical Island Paradise Luxury Yacht is the most overgenerous yacht ever built having its own volcano, a cascade nurturing the pool deck and tropical islands floating on his side. This amazing yacht is 90 meters long, has a runway for helicopters and an enormous bar in the back with thatched roofs, typical for tropical island.
NIGER DELTASLAVE ROUTES GUIDED TOURS.
As further said in the Bayelsa state's tourism handbook, : A major holiday tour package allowing tourists to experience the meandering and criss-crossing creeks of the Niger Delta, and its surrounding mangroves, by boat could be developed. This could form part of a holistic ecotourism programme for those interested in exploring tropical rain forest environment…
Since 2001,I have been working closely with the Centre for the Promotion of Tourism, Arts and Culture in Nigeria[CEPTAC] for the bringing about of a Niger Delta Slave Routes Guided Tours which is a program designed to take tourists from allover the interested world to the slaves routes in the Niger Delta. I must say that this is a project that will help open up the local communities of Bayelsa State, Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Imo as well as Abia states. It will therefore not be out of place for the states in question to collaborate in sponsoring this venture that will amongst other benefits also provide massive employment opportunities.The Chairman of the CEPTAC board of Trustees is King Alfred Diette Spiff while the President is Alabo Mike Amachree. Another prominent member of the Board of Trustees is Prof. E. J. Alagoa.
Clearly, this project will serve the purpose sought by the state's tourism handbook regarding the mangroves if promoted.
Festivals.
In truth, the problem with most of the cultural festivals of the people of Bayelsa, Nigeria and Black Africans have which they organize and expect to attract cultural tourists in commercial numbers with, are held and organized in environments that are not cultural at all. The festivals are therefore half-cultural and turn out to be a mere mockery of themselves, they are like fishes out of the water and have robbed the thunders of their bolts.
We must begin to construct cultural environments to host our cultural festivals and it is only when we do this that they will achieve the sync necessary, even essential to attract the local and foreign tourists that we target in numbers that make economic sense.
In Enugu my home state for instance, the masquerade festival which the state has made its primary tourist product is usually held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, which I dare say makes it a miss-fit, and a cynical joke and ensures that the state is denied the full benefits that would have accrued to it if they were held within an African cultural environment,. The same goes for the stupid nonsense that passes as Abuja carnival were we annually waste money that could help tourism is channeled to more intelligent hands.
Most of the carnivals organized in Nigeria are blatant insults to our cultural and historical heritages. We are desperate to copy the Caribbean, forgetting that the Black Diaspora who were forced out of native Africa had to make do with what was available to them in the foreign and alien environments where they found themselves. It is a matter of the original copying the imitation—What a joke and what disservice to the motherland!
IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY
The most important ingredient required for meaningful tourism development is perhaps the most neglected in Nigeria's pursuit or rather pretentions at tourism development. That ingredient is IMAGINATION and CREATIVITY.
Imagination/creativity is essential not only for tourism development but indeed in all aspects of human endeavor. In absolutely every field of human undertaking, creativity/imagination is not only useful for necessary: be it in agriculture, in music, games, war, diplomacy, science, you name it. In fact, one can argue that without imagination/creativity, we cannot be truly human.
When we talk about tourism potentials and endowments in Nigeria, we only think of natural endowments, even the culture we refer to, we fail to realize that they are products of the creativity/imagination of our ancestors. Without imagination/creativity we cannot harness any tourism potentials. We fail to realize that many of the nations that are making waves in tourism in the modern world are relying mostly on imagination/creativity and less and less on any natural endowments. Dubai is a place that most travelling Nigerians go to all the time, are we blind to seeing that the Dubai we know of today is a product of human imagination and creativity?
Destinations across the world are beginning to replace or supplement culture-led development strategies with creative development strategies. In fact, books have been written that critically analyze the impact and effectiveness of creative strategies in tourism development and chart the emergence of creative tourism .
Questions have been asked as to why has creativity become such an important aspect of development strategies and of tourism development in particular. Further questions have also been asked as to why is this phenomenon happening now, apparently simultaneously, in so many destinations across the globe?
In a related development, questions are being asked as to the difference between cultural tourism and creative tourism?
In our quest for determined and massive tourism development in Bayelsa State, Nigeria and black Africa, we must begin to examine critically the available wide range of examples from Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and Africa. We must begin to explore the interface between tourism and creativity including: creative spaces and places such as cultural and creative clusters and ethnic precincts; the role of the creative industries and entrepreneurs in the creation of experiences; creativity and rural areas; the creative class and tourism; lifestyle, creativity and tourism and marketing creative tourism destinations.
We must critically begin to examine the relationship between individual and collective forms of creativity and the very different forms of modern tourism!.
99.9% of all the attractions that lure local and international tourists to Egypt are all man made. All the pyramids, the sphinx, the mummies are all not only man made, but are all made by black peoples. Not by the ancestors of the Arabs who now inhabit Egypt , but by black people who founded and developed Egypt before by accidents of history they had to leave her for others from other races.
75% of all the attractions that lure tourists to Asia-China, Japan, Thailand e.t.c. are all man made. Think of the statues of Buddha in their majesty and splendor. yes—man made
The African Renaissance Monument in Dakar, Senegal which was unveiled just recently in April 2010, like the stature of liberty in the U.S., are all man made.
Blacks are the most creative and ingenious human beings on earth and our country Nigeria is full of artistic geniuses from the most ancient times to the present day,. Why do we refuse to engage our creative people in nation building and in tourism development?
I recall in 1999/2000 when Mr. Ojo Maduekwe was Minister of Culture and Tourism and I had gone to him to discuss 4 tourism projects that I was convinced would assist tourism development in Nigeria:1, 2nd All Nigerian Local Governments Tourism Workshop;2,3rd Nigerian International Tourism Expo;3,Tourism development Bank and ;4, Zuma Rock National Unity Monument. After meeting with his ministry, it dawned on me once more that those we consistently saddle with heading the tourism ministry in Nigeria are those who either know nothing of tourism development or do not care or both. I weep for Nigeria.
I respectfully submit that with creativity and imagination tourism can be applied to foster national unification and that that was what I and my firm sought and still seek to achieve with the ZUMA ROCK NATIONAL UNITY MONUMENT as conceived.
We planned that in the composition of the complex-stone carvings all-around the rock should be done depicting all the ethnic nationalities that compose Nigeria in a posture of fraternity and unification as indeed an indivisible entity bound together by love, understanding and history, not one bound together by force and compulsion.
GALLERIES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL AREAS.
I humbly suggest that the state government in collaboration with all the local government councils establishes galleries in all the local councils of the state. Galleries that will draw a specialized tourist flow to them and I recommend the followings:
1,STUFFED AFRICAN MASQUARADES AND MASKS.
2,MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
3,HOUSE HOLD UTENSLES.
4,AFRICAN HEROS AND HEROINES.
5,AFRICA/COLONIAL WARS.
6,SLAVE TRADE
7,FURNITURE.
8,AFRICAN CULTURAL RENAISSANCE BOOKS.
WORLD TOURISM DAY
Tomorrow, September 27 is World Tourism Day. The 2012 official World Tourism Day[WTD] celebrations will be held in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain under the theme Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development. World Tourism day 2012 highlights the need to bring the tourism sector and energy stakeholders closer together to spur tourism's contribution to sustainability.
''Tourism is at the forefront of many of the latest and most innovative sustainable energy initiatives'' said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. ''One only has to think of the investments being poured into renewable energy technology solutions implemented in hotels around the world, to know that sustainable energy is a major priority for the sector
The message at the heart of World Tourism day 2012 is that these initiatives and commitments are not only helping to protect the environment, they are also creating economic opportunities and jobs for millions, whether in tourism, energy or other sectors''
The question I must ask here is HOW MANY OF US KNOW THAT THE IDEA OF THE WORLD TOURISM DAY THAT IS CELEBRATED ALLOVER THE WORLD ON SEPTEMBER 27TH EVERY YEAR CAME FROM A NIGER DELTAN? Well the truth is that it was a Niger Deltan, now late and most uncelebrated, by name Mr. Ignatius Atigbi that generated that Idea.
Let me use this opportunity to call on the NDDC to take tourism development in the Niger Delta most seriously and begin now to plan to make it the industry that will sustain the region when oil dries up.
UNDERWATER TOURISM
Construction will soon begin in Dubai for the Water Discus, the first five-star underwater hotel. As Richard Branson and James Cameron make high-profile submarine drives deep into the ocean and millionaires purchase luxury subs to sit on the deck of their yachts, a growing interest in underwater tourism is fueling a number of out-of-this-world projects.
What a suite will look like at the Water Discus hotel. People have always been fascinated with what's underwater. Said Bruce Jones, president of Triton and U.S. Submarines Inc., which is building what hopes to be the world's first underwater resort in Fiji.
With the announcement in May that Dubai will also build an underwater hotel, the water Discus, the race to become the first underwater five-star destination grows fierce. The Dubai proposal will have 21 rooms at least 30 feet below the surface in a giant disc. A disc above the water will have recreational facilities-a spa, garden, and a swimming pool. Other discs will house a helipad and diving center and emergency flotation pods, with a central shaft connecting the upper and lower levels, making the complex look like a spaceship.
The entire hotel can also be raised above the water in event of an evacuation or for repairs and it can be towed somewhere else.
Dubai previously planned to build the $300 million Hydro polis---- a 250-suite underwater resort. But that project collapsed during the economic downturn. This current proposal, backed by Dubai construction company Drydocks World, Swiss brokerage firm BIG Invest Consult and designed by Poland's Deep Ocean Technology, will cost between just $50 and $120 million. It's the first of many planned for the region.
Jones, however , is confident his Poseidon Undersea Resort will both be built first—within the next two years- and be better. The Poseidon resort, which was held up by financial troubles and a coup in Fiji, will have 24 underwater suites, suites over the water, and beachfront locations.$15,000 per person will get you a week with multiple nights in each type of suite, piloting lessons in a mini-submarine, and a personal butler to move you from one room to another. The resort will also have a spa, Scuba lessons, seven bars, six restaurants[ one underwater,] and a nine-hole golf course.
Submarines are the driving force of the growth in the underwater tourism business. In 1986, there was just one tourist submarine. Today, there are 40. These machines, found often in tropical islands,
In South Africa, a grand vision for a R1.5bn edutainment facility on the KwaZulu-Natal coast is being promoted by a U.S. hospitality group that plans a fleet of six see-through tourist submarines, underwater restaurants and nightclubs, and a 1700-seat amphitheatre for live music performances.
Tony Watkins, the president and CEO of the firm of the same name and a former entertainment industry producer and talent coordinator, in July this year[2012] unveiled the Music City,S.A. concept at the South African Maritime Industry Conference in Cape Town.
The Aqua musical Experience is a two-part project. On land there will be a music-themed hotel, conference centre and retail area. Offshore a 60m-long, twin-hulled platform known as the Mother Ship will be moored with the all-acrylic submarine docking between the hulls.
The Mother Ship will have underwater restaurants, a nightclub and hotel suites, and a games centre for children.
The project is being pursued in partnership with the South African Maritime safety Authority [SAMSA]. The 66 Luxury, cinema-style swivel seated submarines will be wheelchair friendly. They will offer passengers floor-to-ceiling views and will be able to travel to a depth of 250ft.
Bayelsa state should look seriously into underwater tourism as the state has fantastic comparative advantage in this and use it to enhance its position as a major tourist destination in Nigeria and in Africa.
INCENTIVES.
Nations allover the world create incentives to drive and attract activities and peoples to desirable courses of action. Incentives of various natures have been used by mankind from time immemorial to spur men into undertakings desired.
Bayelsa state in its bid for tourism development should consider appropriate incentives to attract local and international investors to the desired goal of her tourism development.
The state should also be willing to enter into partnerships with the right mix of people and organizations form Bayelsa, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Africa and the world
Ingenious ideas not backed by necessary funding should receive such funding in Bayelsa state under mutually favorable terms and conditions.
THE AFRICAN FILMS INDUSTRY.
Statistics released last week by the National Bureau of Statistics [NBS] show that the non-oil sector is contributing to economic growth. The nations' film industry is believed to have the potential to help diversify the economy, which may be why President Goodluck Jonathan created a $200m intervention fund for the creative and entertainment sector. It is said that in the last four years, Nollywood has churned out over 2,000 films yearly. That in 2008,2,408 films were produced by Nollywood; that in 2009 , 2,514 films were produced by it and that 2,621 were produced by Nollywood in 2010. It is further said that Nollywood is ranked first in the world in quantum .
A film said to be most recently made and released in the U.S is tearing the world apart as we speak and is leading to great insecurity which only God knows how ultimately it will be resolved. I personally hold the view that over 75% of the movies made by Nollywood are a grave disservice to Nigeria and portray us in very bad light to the rest of humanity. In fact, if the truth be told, many of them border on pornography and lack any artistic contents whatsoever. Some of these films only see the light of the day because the Film and Video censorship board in this country is useless and we fail to appreciate the harm such madnesses in the name of films are doing to our young ones. Besides, it may be better for the Nigerian film maker to combine efforts to produce movies that will stand the test of time.
The Bayelsa State Government has been hosting the African Movie Academy Awards[AMAA]-this is good. Recently I read on the newspapers where the state government was saying that it would support indigenous film productions-that is also good. Permit me however to suggest that our governments should transform themselves from father christmasses to investors for the benefit of the people they lead.
It is time for our governments to begin to invest in proper film projects that have the potentials of projecting our cultures, enhancing our image and bringing profitable economic returns on investments. The economic downturn plaguing the U.S. economy and turning the economies and indeed the very social fabric of most western Europe should be enough to warn us that the boom many of us enjoy today are not guaranteed to last forever. The clear fact that oil exploration and sales on which the economy of Nigeria overwhelmingly rely on today has an exhaustive life span which some say is as close as 50 years from now and that the activity has and continues to devastate the ecology should stand and keep us all on our toes. The search and establishment of alternative revenue earning subsector, especially tourism should be given all the attention and topmost priority.
The inextricably close relationship of the film industry and tourism development is a clear indication that that is the direction we must walk at this singular point in time.
KING JAJA OF AFRICA –FILM.
A hundred and twenty-one years ago, in July 1891, a remarkable African man, a notable African ruler, met his death during his return trip from three long years of unjustly forced exile. This man, who threw off the bonds of slavery to ultimately become one of the most able and patriotic kings of Africa was a great hero, a clear-sighted statesman with a profound sense of history, instinctively a leader of men, and one who appreciated that material victories were not sufficient to retain the loyalty of his people.
King Jaja of the Niger Delta[1821-1891] was indeed a leader of men, a monarch who competently and confidently strove to develop the economic and social well-being of his people-the Africans. Now, over a century later, Nigeria must celebrate and commemorate his phenomenal rise to power, his extraordinary accomplishments and his untimely death. And what better ways to do this than by the production of an epic feature film based on his life and times and by the establishment of a major theme park tourism complex in his memorial.
King Jaja's feat though he died a hundred and twenty-one years ago, should live as a legacy and example for all Africans, and Nigerians in particular to venerate. This intrepid man fought ignorance, poverty and imperialistic inhumanity with forceful words and courageous actions. His intelligence, imagination, and ingenuity, coupled with his indomitable capacities, made him the embodiment of his people's progressive hopes and the pride of his realm. Nations striving for greatness and distinction in today's world must recognize their heroes of both the past and the present and hold them before their people as profound examples to be studied and emulated. Sadly, most Nigerians and Africans know little or nothing about the history of our country and continent. Although we are urged to embrace a nationalistic fervor, the heroes whose achievements could inspire us to a patriotic love of our country and ambition of struggle for the advancement of our people are virtually unknown to most. Men such as Jaja of Opobo, Oba Overanmwen, Sultan Attahiru, and Nana Olumu, to name only a few, who played leading roles in Nigerian resistance to the imposition of British colonial rule, are blurred in obscurity. Britain or America could not have risen to such heights without their legendary heroes, their national inspirations. Each child in British and American class-rooms is endowed with a rich heritage of national heroes as incentives to shape and stimulate his own aspirations. Africa and Nigeria, must also have such heroes worthy of emulation to stimulate the imaginations of our people and enliven their interest in the welfare of this country and of the continent..This essential ingredient of a great nation is currently missing.
That is why since 1980, the African Films Limited has been striving for the production of the KING JAJA OF AFRICA film. May I call on the governments and peoples of Bayelsa state, of Rivers state, and of Imo state to support this film production. We hope with the production of the King Jaja film to begin the correcting process that will bring valiant men and women, of both the past and present to the forefront of our people's minds and familiarize them with the formidable heroes who are our own and who have served our land well. We believe that this inspiring story of a great African who experienced triumph, suffered adversity and paid the ultimate price with his life for his patriotism is especially pertinent to our people today
CONCLUSION
As I said earlier, since the past two-plus years, the Renaissance Multi-Links[Nig]Ltd which I lead have been trying to organize a Bayelsa State Culture and Tourism Endowment Fund. It is important that somehow a solid fund be consolidated for the specific purpose of development of tourism in Bayelsa state.
I dare to suggest further that a BAYELSA STATE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION[BSTDC] be established as a parastatal of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Tourism Development and staffed with professionals and committed consultants and charged with the responsibility of jump starting tourism development in the state. I am aware that many states in Nigeria have established tourism development corporations which have added no value whatsoever to their quest for tourism development, this is why committed consultants with clear mandates and result oriented schedules must be also engaged to ensure that this one delivers.
The proposed tourism corporation should be given the mandate to do all it takes within the law to turn Bayelsa state into the front line tourist destination in Nigeria and Africa. It should establish and nourish contacts with stakeholders and investors in Bayelsa state, in Niger Delta, the rest of Nigeria and the world for massive and radical development of the state's tourist industry.
Finally, let me remind all of us that the theme of this forum is: A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TOURISM DFEVELOPMENT IN BAYELSA STATE. This theme must be given its literary meaning. Let it be realized that the responsibility indeed is collective. That collective, we must realize includes officials of this administration and the previous administrations in the state; it includes the members of the Peoples Democratic Party[PDP],those of the African Renaissance Party{ARP}, those of the All Nigerian Peoples Party[ANPP], of the Congress for Progressive Change[CPC], of the Action Congress of Nigeria[CAN].and of all registered as well as unregistered political parties in Nigeria active in Bayelsa state. In fact , the collective must include the over 90% of the rest Bayelsans that do not belong to any political parties.
Thank you all.