Mr Nkereuwem Onung is the president of Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) and the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Culture and Tourism. In this exclusive interview with WALE OLAPADE, Onung, who is presently exploring the tourism model of China, speaks on his tour of Beijing and what Nigeria needs to reposition tourism for economic development.

Recently, you were in China for an online seminar on innovative development of culture and tourism for African countries, what is it all about?

Yes, I am presently on a fam-Trip in China. At the seminar, i delivered the opening speech on behalf of 60 participants from African countries at the opening of the online seminar on innovative development of culture and tourism for African countries organised by the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, China Ministry of Culture and tourism.

The meeting was chaired by Mrs Lu Juan, Vice President of the Central Academy and supported by Mr Zhang Weiguo, Deputy Director-General, Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China.

Good life is about innovation, even so, tourism is beyond visiting physical assets, it is about experience, culture, food and the people among others things that complete the tourism value chain. China has actually created innovative development in the area of digital technology and connectivity, community-based tourism, sustainable tourism practices, strong partnerships and collaboration, Niche tourism products, tourism training and capacity building. All these are needed for growth and development of the industry.

What is or are your take home from the seminar and how do you think you can sustainably create impact with your experience to better Nigeria’s economy?

The seminar has opened my eyes to many grey areas that reduce nation’s opportunity from reaching the desired tourism goal to better the economy. Nations fail due to failure of institutions and collapse of culture and in order to make a meaningful development in tourism, we need to redirect our values so that we can grow as a nation.

What do you mean when you say the seminar projected the main logic of the consumption driver of cultural and tourism economy?

During the seminar which lasted for two weeks, we saw amongst others the main logic of the consumption driver of cultural and tourism economy in relation to the journey of China’s tourism development and construction of world-class tourist destination. We understand that people will not consume products that they can’t afford and also the purchasing power parity is very crucial to economic development.