NIHOTOUR moves to certify tourism journalists, vows crackdown on quackery
Maureen Aguta
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has announced plans to professionalise tourism journalism in Nigeria through training, certification and registration, warning that the industry must be protected against quackery and unethical practices.
The Director-General 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 in Lagos, on Friday.
Fagade, who was represented by a senior management official of the institute, Dr Abba Shehu, described tourism journalism as a critical trade within Nigeria’s tourism value chain, stressing that the profession plays a strategic role in promoting destinations, attracting investment and communicating the country’s tourism potential to the world.
He said the institute would incorporate tourism journalism into its broader professional development and standardisation framework, in line with its mandate to develop and professionalise Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism workforce.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at equipping practitioners with the requisite knowledge, skills, ethical orientation and professional competence to meet the demands of a growing tourism industry.
“NIHOTOUR recognises tourism journalism as one of the critical trades within the tourism value chain. The successful development of tourism depends 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 tourism,” he said.
Fagade explained that tourism journalists influence destination image, promote cultural understanding, inform travellers and create awareness of investment opportunities, making their contributions indispensable to the development of the sector.
He, however, clarified that the proposed certification and registration framework would not be designed to exclude genuine practitioners but to establish professional standards, recognise competence and strengthen public confidence in tourism reporting.
“Our objective is to ensure practitioners possess appropriate knowledge, relevant skills, ethical orientation and professional competence. Professional registration and certification are not intended to create barriers for genuine practitioners, but to promote competence, recognise qualified professionals, establish standards and strengthen public confidence,” he said.
On the proposed partnership with ANJET, the NIHOTOUR boss said the institute would pursue an inclusive approach through stakeholder consultations, training programmes and clear guidelines that would enable existing practitioners to acquire the necessary competencies and obtain professional recognition.
He added that NIHOTOUR would work closely with the association to develop a practical framework for training, certification and registration, stressing that collaboration would be essential to achieving the objective.
Fagade noted that the institute had previously organised training programmes for ANJET members, reflecting its recognition of tourism journalists as important partners in national tourism development.
He described tourism journalism as more than the reporting of industry events, arguing that it encompasses the promotion of Nigeria’s cultural heritage, natural attractions and domestic tourism opportunities, as well as efforts to attract investment and educate the public on the economic and social benefits of tourism.
“Through reports, features, documentaries and interviews, ANJET members help connect tourism destinations and service providers with the public, while also providing a platform for constructive criticism, accountability and informed public discourse,” he said.
The NIHOTOUR director-general also urged tourism journalists to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, objectivity and ethical conduct, noting that their reports could influence public perception, investment decisions and travellers’ choice of destinations.
He encouraged ANJET to continue identifying members’ capacity-building needs and promoting professional certification as a tool for career development.
Fagade commended the association’s leadership for sustaining its annual conference and awards, describing the platform as an important avenue for recognising excellence, encouraging professional development and advancing tourism journalism in Nigeria.
He congratulated the organisers, nominees and award recipients, urging them to remain committed to credible reporting and the promotion of Nigeria’s tourism potential.
He reaffirmed NIHOTOUR’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with ANJET, expressing confidence that closer collaboration would benefit media professionals, tourism operators, government institutions and the wider public.
“Together, let us professionalise tourism journalism, promote credible tourism reporting, protect the profession from quackery and tell Nigeria’s tourism story with excellence, integrity and pride,” he said.