NIHOTOUR, South African High Commission Strengthen Collaboration On Hospitality, Tourism, Cultural Exchange

In a strategic move to deepen bilateral relations between Ni­geria and South Africa, the Na­tional Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has taken steps to enhance coopera­tion in hospitality, tourism, and cultural exchange. This develop­ment follows a high-level meet­ing between the Director Gen­eral/CEO of NIHOTOUR, Aare (Dr.) Abisoye Fagade, FIMC, and Professor Bobby J. Monroe, the Consul General of the Republic of South Africa in Lagos, held at NIHOTOUR’s headquarters in Abuja.

During the meeting, Aare Abisoye Fagade highlighted the vital role of tourism and hospi­tality in fostering unity, boosting economic growth, and reshaping security perceptions in Nigeria. He pointed to the recent success of Lagos’ Detty December as a testament to Nigeria’s growing tourism appeal and its potential to strengthen ties with South Africa.

“Tourism is not just about travel and hospitality; it is a bridge that connects cul­tures, fosters understanding, and drives economic growth. Through structured training, knowledge exchange, and mu­tual collaboration, we can dispel misconceptions, improve securi­ty narratives, and build a future where Nigerians and South Afri­cans see each other as partners, not rivals,” Fagade stated.

The partnership between NI­HOTOUR and the South African High Commission will focus on four key areas:

Hospitality & Tourism Train­ing Exchange: Establishing joint training programs and certifica­tion initiatives between NIHO­TOUR and South African insti­tutions to enhance professional skills in both nations.

Cultural Diplomacy: Utiliz­ing cultural tourism as a tool to foster stronger people-to-people connections and combat stereo­types between Nigerians and South Africans.

Security and Perception Man­agement: Highlighting Nigeria’s improving tourism security landscape to attract more South African tourists and investors.

Joint Tourism Development Projects: Encouraging cross-bor­der investments in hospitality and tourism infrastructure to boost economic collaboration.

Professor Monroe reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to partnering with NIHOTOUR, emphasising the need for Af­rican nations to unite through tourism and harness their rich cultural diversity for mutual prosperity.

“Our nations share deep his­torical ties, and tourism provides a platform to strengthen these connections. By working togeth­er, we can unlock the vast poten­tial of our respective tourism sectors and promote sustainable development,” Monroe stated.

This collaboration is expect­ed to create new opportunities, strengthen diplomatic relations, and drive economic growth in the tourism sector for both na­tions.

Both parties resolved to ac­tively pursue the opportunities presented by this partnership, marking a significant step to­ward a more integrated and prosperous African tourism industry.