Africa’s tourism industry has significant growth potential – Uzor

Edith Uzor, a graduate of Mass Communication from Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State, discusses with INNOCENT ENETA the prospects and challenges of the tourism industry as well as government’s role in transforming the sector

A graduate of Mass Communication, at what point did you decide to set up a tourism outfit?
I worked with a travel agency for years. Over the years, I built relationships by providing friends, individuals and businesses with innovative and cost-friendly packages.

I had a fairly good understanding of the travel business and I had my own ideas about how I wanted to tailor services to customers, which I couldn’t achieve in paid employment. So I decided to test the waters with my own business, to see where the road of entrepreneurship leads me.

Are you certified to practise tourism?
I attended an aviation school and underwent training with Sabre Corporation Training, a travel technology company in South Lake, Texas.

What accomplishment shaped your career and what were the biggest challenges you faced at the beginning?
When I joined the travel agency, within 12 months, we doubled the revenue of the company. It all boiled down to interacting with customers, understanding their needs and providing bespoke solutions that matched those expectations.

For every entrepreneur one of the biggest challenges is funding and finding people who truly believe in your vision. In my case, I had to raise capital from friends and family.

Where in Nigeria or Africa do you like recommending your clients to and why?
I usually advise clients to travel to Kenya. The East African country has been described as the cradle of humanity. With its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife, Kenya is one of Africa’s major safari destinations. Kenyan visa processing is easy and less stressful.

What future do you see for tourism in Africa?
Africa’s tourism industry has significant growth potential. The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) sees a bright future for Africa. Over the next dozen years, it projects that the number of tourist arrivals on the continent will jump from about 50 million to 130 million. African countries and regions coming up in tourism are taking steps to make travel easier to plan, safer and more streamlined. Low cost airlines are making inroads, and in the process are making it simpler to travel around Africa on a tighter budget. 

What policies do you think the government can implement to provide a more favourable environment for the industry?
Our government can provide a more favourable environment for tourism in Nigeria by investing in the tourism sector. 

Government should stop or discourage tours to foreign lands and identify holiday cities in Nigeria. It can develop Nigerian beaches, encourage the people on adventure tours and then promote tourist outfits through social media.

What informed the choice of your company’s name?

In the course of my aviation training, there is what we call the aviation alphabet and I just randomly picked S and A. That is where I got Sigma Alpha. 

Do you have a partnership with Sigma Alpha Omega Weekender Travel?
No.

How supportive have your family been?
My husband has always been supportive at all times, both financially and morally. I call him my superman.

Did you meet your husband in the course of doing your job?
No, but we met in a more romantic way. 

What is your advice to up-and-coming entrepreneurs in your industry?
Up-and-coming entrepreneurs should always do what will make them happy. There is enough room for everybody to succeed.

Despite whatever is going on around you, just make sure that you give whatever you want to start a chance and always put it in prayers.

How do you see your future in the industry?
With the rate I am going, I think the industry is smiling at me already.