Travel consolidator, Finglow Travels, has called on the federal government to relax Nigeria’s visa regime, saying such a move will boost air travel traffic, tourism and wider economic growth.
The company’s Business-to-Business Development Manager, Abiola Bakare, made the call in an interview with LEADERSHIP ahead of the Partner Plus Connect (PPC) engagement scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt on September 26.
According to Bakare, the PPC was to interact with their trade partners, as engaging people physically is totally different from engaging them online.
Speaking on the relaxed visa regime, Bakare urged the federal government to emulate countries like Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana among other African countries that have a relaxed visa regime.
According to Bakare, a relaxed visa regime will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the load factor for airlines, as well as on tourism attractions in Nigeria.
He argued that, the government can start a visa relaxation regime with African countries, saying the nation’s economy will benefit from it.
“A relaxed visa regime will improve traffic to Nigeria. Ghana has done it. Kenya is a recent example. Rwanda started it and they are benefiting immensely.
“Therefore, a relaxed visa regime will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the load factor for airlines, as well as on tourism and attract travellers to Nigeria. Currently, arrangements have been made for a visa on arrival. It’s a bit modernised because for you to travel to Nigeria, you actually need a visa, and it’s now automated, even as you need to process it online.
“You need to start the processing before you even depart from where you are coming from. The Nigerian government, in their wisdom, should also consider a total relaxation of visa on arrival, at least for African countries, for a start, because it will definitely impact traffic and it will also enhance trade,” he said.
“It’s also in line with the vision of the African Continental AFCTA. There is also an alignment with that, because people should be able to move from one country to another. So, it will enhance. And also, when you look at the impact, when people travel, the whole economy benefits.”
Bakare further stated that a relaxing visa would allow people to see the numerous economic and tourism potential inherent in the country.
“I believe it’s ideal for the federal government to study the success factor in Kenya. For instance, as a tourist, you buy stuff from the shops, you feed, you’re going to patronise resorts, pay taxes in the form of VAT and other consumption taxes. The taxi driver, even on the street, will benefit from it. The hotelier will benefit from it. So, it’s a full-time ecosystem of people who benefit from a relaxing travel regime.
“Let people come and explore our economy, and that doesn’t mean the border is totally free, as there are security checks that ensure that you can also come into the country and you also go out as well,” he stated.
Speaking on the PPC, Bakare explained that engaging their business partners was to show how daring and enviable they are to them and their businesses.
