Femi Fadina, National President, Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), says Nigeria’s Detty December tourism is under threat before kick-off, due to poor service, high prices, and lack of coordination.
Fadina said this in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.
He said the December travel rush, which attracts diaspora Nigerians and tourists, is now marked by luxury prices for average services, which could drive visitors to other African countries.
“Detty December didn’t become a global phenomenon because we had structure.
“It blew up in spite of the structure we didn’t have.
“We accidentally stumbled into a billion-dollar seasonal economy, and then, we overplayed our hand,” he said.
Fadina said hotels, short-lets, and event organisers now price experiences exorbitantly, as if trying to make a year’s profit in one month.
He added that poor customer service, unreliable transport, bad traffic management, and inconsistent security were making things worse, creating a combo of high costs and low quality.
Citing Ghana, South Africa, Rwanda and Benin Republic, he said other African countries were capitalising on Nigeria’s missteps by offering better curated experiences, clearer pricing structures and stronger coordination across tourism value chains.
“Right now, Nigeria is pricing itself out of the same opportunity it created.
“While we’re busy squeezing visitors, other African destinations are quietly securing the bag,” he said.
He said that though the country enjoyed a first-mover advantage in December tourism, it had squandered the value advantage, putting its market leadership at risk.
Fadina decried the lack of a policy regulating seasonal pricing, adding that there was no incentive architecture for operators, no coordinated national events calendar and no tourism blueprint linking transport, policing, hospitality and experience.
He urged stakeholders, including the government and private sector to collaborate on pricing guidelines, service standards and an integrated national events calendar.
Fadina recommended incentives for operators who invested in safety, quality and customer experience, as well as better coordination among transport agencies, hospitality providers and security services. (NAN)
