NIHOTOUR is expanding professional training, certification and registration as Nigeria moves to improve standards and competitiveness in tourism and hospitality.
Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry is moving towards stronger professional regulation as the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism intensifies efforts to improve workforce capacity, certification and service standards.
The institute says its reforms are designed to build a more credible tourism workforce capable of meeting domestic and international expectations.
NIHOTOUR Director-General, Dr Abisoye Fagade, disclosed the developments during an interaction with tourism journalists in Lagos.
One of the institute’s notable initiatives is the creation of Nigeria’s first national register of hospitality and tourism professionals. The register is expected to help distinguish certified practitioners from unqualified operators and improve confidence among visitors, investors and employers.
Training capacity has also expanded considerably. NIHOTOUR reported that it has increased its annual training capacity from about 1,000 participants to nearly 3,000.
Its training footprint has grown from nine states to approximately 30 states, giving more tourism and hospitality workers access to professional development.
The institute is also preparing to establish a Tourism Academy that will coordinate professional education and certification through accredited private training institutions.
Rather than establishing government-owned schools across the country, NIHOTOUR plans to accredit qualified private institutions while retaining responsibility for standards, quality assurance and certification.
The reforms address an important issue in tourism development. Attractions can bring visitors to a destination, but the quality of accommodation, tour guiding, food service, customer care and visitor management often determines whether those visitors return.
Professionalisation could become one of the less visible but most important components of Nigeria’s tourism development.
As the country seeks more international visitors and stronger domestic tourism, skilled professionals will be needed to translate Nigeria’s attractions into reliable visitor experiences.
