subject: music is the mother of tuorism [print this page] music is the mother of tuorism music is the mother of tuorism
Touristis the one of the greatest thing in the world. The memories come in unison withnature;the tears of man are wiped away by the wonderful creation from God.
To my own perspective,tourist is nature,tourist is love,tourist is harmony, so if I would define tourist;''it is the harmonious development that is nowin nature'' and the world of tourism would say ''It is the harmonious blending of the colors tones and formsof nature''
Tourism without music is like honey without its sweetness. Nigerian Jazz musician, Tee Mac, recently at the Nigerian Village built by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation in Johannesburg, South Africa, said "tourism is incomplete without music."
The artiste, who spoke with journalists on behalf of his colleagues and some Nollywood artistes, in South Africa to showcase the nation's tourism assets on the sideline at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, said Nigeria had come of age at 50, with huge human and material resources to lead the continent.
"If somebody goes to a country like Thailand, there is music all over the place, Nigeria has all kinds of music, different dress designs, food, so tourists coming to Nigeria will have a whole lot ofthings to enjoy," he said, while advocating a partnership of the music industry and the tourism industry.
Stand-up comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka, whiteeagle, described Nigeria as the capital of entertainment and fun "the best country in the world, we might not have got to the Promised Land, but we will get there soon. What we have come to showcase are our asset, the way they are and not the way the Western media projects us.
We have got the best of Nigerian music, food, Nollywood Artistes who can compete with any body, anywhere in the world, and best of comedians."
Lauding the efforts of NTDC at putting the idea to work, Adeyinka said the tourism corporation has done well, stressing that in the past Nigerians were not celebrating their strength.
The artistes are always on hand with live performances alongside the comedians, while a novelty football match sponsored by MTN amongst other side attractions were billed for the Village, which has been attracting Nigerians and other nationals residents in South Africa.
According to Runs ewe " the 2010 World Cup being an Africa affair, Nigeria should not be left out of the festivity, hence, the NTDC has decided to use the opportunity to promote Nigeria as a destination of choice for both business and leisure. The plan is to make a lasting impact and impression on the minds of thousands of people expected to
attend the world football event and even after the event." Our outing is going to be running long after the world cup event has ended, we are building a product that will be remembered after the world cup is gone," he said of the project, which has received even the approval of the South African Tourism Authority. To ensure that the project flies, the NTDC, he revealed, is working in conjunction with Match Company', a South Africa-based firm while, Primetime Entertainment, a Nigerian firm, is charged with the marketing and promotion of the project.
Speaking on the details of the project, Runs ewe, who said the building is entirely Nigerian both in concept and finishing, explained that it would reflect Nigeria'straditional architectural designs and decoration by employing elements that are entirely indigenous.
He added that the village, which is being constructed in Johannesburg, would serve as a melting pot for Nigerians. The building would entail different meeting rooms and sessions that would be used for different functions as a media centre and medical centre, among others.
Runs ewe further added that the village would be devoted to the promotion of Nigeria in South Africa, with the hope that visitors to the country during and after the world cup would encounter a new Nigeria that is different from the one that they have heard of or encountered in the past. As a result of this, Runs ewe said that the NTDC alone would not be the only one operating from the village as the 36 states of the country, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and other major players and outfits in the tourism industry had been invited to feature in the promotional bid so as to ensure that people who visit the village are treated to the full complement of the new Nigeria that NTDC is positioning.
To this end, he said,Nigerian arts and crafts, fashion, cuisine, drinks and other traditional products thatshowcase the totality of Nigeria's cultural tourism industry would be on display, adding specifically that one of the pivotal attractions of the village would be the Nigerian cuisine ranging from the traditional to the modern.
To achieve this, he revealed, two major Nigerian restaurants operating in Europe and one in South Africa had been contracted to take charge of the restaurant. The reason for this, he said, is because the NTDC wants the restaurant, which would serve as an inviting pull for people to the village, to be in the culture of global dining even though the food that would be served and the ambience of the restaurant are Nigerian. "What we are doing is to sell our country to the whole world and for them to know that we have something to offer. Nigeria is coming out to make a statement,that we are a serious destination with vast and rich treasures that tourists would be excited about," he said.
On the choice of Johannesburg for the tourism village rather than Durban where the Nigerian football team is going to be quartered for the first round of the football fiesta, Runs ewe explained that the tourism village project was not all about projecting football or lending support to the national team alone, but also about promoting Nigeria as an entity, which was part of the reasons the choice of Johannesburg was given preference in view of its attractive status and elements.
Besides, he also stressed that the Nigeria Tourism Village would outlive the global football event as it is intended to be a permanent feature in South Africa, which hopefully in later years should transform into a meeting point for people to feel, taste and brace the ingenuity of Nigeria as they pass through South Africa.
