NIHOTOUR to certify, register tourism journalists, moves against quackery

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has announced plans to incorporate tourism journalism into its professional training, certification and registration framework, describing the practice as a critical trade in Nigeria’s tourism value chain.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIHOTOUR, Aare Dr. Abisoye Fagade, disclosed this at the 2026 Conference and Awards of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET), held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday.

Fagade, who was represented by a senior management official, Dr. Abba Shehu, said the initiative was aimed at strengthening professional standards, improving practitioners’ competence and protecting tourism journalism from quackery.

He said the institute would work with ANJET to develop a practical framework for training, certification and registration, with an inclusive approach that recognises the experience of existing practitioners.

According to Fagade, tourism journalism plays a significant role in the development of the industry by promoting destinations, showcasing Nigeria’s cultural heritage, encouraging domestic tourism, attracting investment and informing the public about the economic and social benefits of tourism.

He explained that tourism development depended not only on hotels, travel agencies, tour operators and tour guides, but also on professionals who communicate tourism experiences, interpret destinations and shape public understanding of the sector.

“NIHOTOUR recognises tourism journalism as one of the critical trades within the tourism value chain,” he said.

The DG noted that tourism journalists influence destination image, promote cultural understanding, inform travellers and create awareness of investment opportunities through news reports, features, documentaries and interviews.

He added that responsible tourism reporting also provides opportunities for constructive criticism, accountability and informed public discourse on issues affecting the industry.

Fagade said NIHOTOUR would treat tourism journalism as an important area for professional development, standardisation, certification and registration under its broader mandate to develop Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism workforce.

He explained that the proposed framework would seek to ensure that practitioners possessed relevant knowledge, professional skills, ethical orientation and the competence required to perform their duties.

According to him, certification and registration are intended to recognise qualified practitioners, establish professional standards and strengthen public confidence rather than create unnecessary barriers to entry.

He stressed, however, that the sector needed protection from unprofessional practices and individuals seeking to exploit the growing importance of tourism communication without the necessary competence or commitment to ethical standards.

To address this concern, he said NIHOTOUR would pursue professionalisation through stakeholder consultation, training opportunities and clear guidelines that would enable genuine practitioners to acquire the required competencies and obtain professional recognition.

The institute would collaborate with ANJET in identifying members’ capacity-building needs and designing appropriate training programmes.

NIHOTOUR reaffirms partnership with ANJET

Fagade commended ANJET’s leadership for sustaining its conference and awards platform, describing it as an avenue for recognising excellence, promoting professional development and advancing tourism journalism in Nigeria.

He said the partnership between NIHOTOUR and ANJET reflected a shared commitment to developing the tourism industry through capacity building, public awareness, professionalism and the promotion of Nigeria’s tourism potential.

The DG noted that NIHOTOUR had previously offered training programmes to ANJET members, underscoring the institute’s recognition of journalists as important partners in national tourism development.

He urged members of the association to uphold accuracy, fairness, objectivity and ethical conduct in their reporting.

“Tourism journalism has the power to shape perceptions, influence decisions, attract investment and inspire citizens to appreciate their country’s tourism resources. With this power comes responsibility to report accurately and contribute constructively to national development,” he said.

Fagade encouraged ANJET to sustain its collaboration with the institute and motivate members to embrace professional training, certification and registration as instruments for career development.

He expressed confidence that closer cooperation between both organisations would benefit media professionals, tourism practitioners, industry operators, government institutions and the wider public.

Fagade congratulates award recipients

The NIHOTOUR boss congratulated ANJET on the successful organisation of its 2026 conference and awards and commended the nominees and award recipients for their contributions to tourism journalism.

He reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to maintaining a productive relationship with the association to strengthen professional standards and promote credible reporting of Nigeria’s tourism sector.

NIHOTOUR is the institution mandated to train, certify and register personnel in Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry, while ANJET represents journalists and writers specialising in travel, tourism, hospitality and related fields.