Why we are introducing tourism as a discipline — Vice Chancellor, Espam-Formation, University, Cotonou

The Vice Chancellor of Espam-Formation University Cotonou, Benin Republic, Professor Sam Odunayo Igbasan, has explained the need to have tourism as an academic field of study in higher institutions across Africa. This is part of the efforts to enhance the growth and development of tourism in Africa through education.

While receiving the award of excellence from members of Salvage Africa Tourism Group led by Kayode Anthony at the main campus, Igbasan commended the foresight of Mr. Anthony for his vision in the emancipation of Africa through tourism.

According to Igbasan “the need to emphasize the importance of tourism in order to save the developing statues of African economy through tourism. Tourism is the next hope of African societies; we have all what its takes to strive as a reckoning voice in the global world with tourism alone. For this reason, we are to have tourism as an academic field in the institution”.

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“Oil and gas, according to scientific prediction, may not last the next decade, there is an urgent need to start building and developing what we have, as we are endowed with tourism assets and artifacts, which are worthy of Academic research and investigation.”

“We want to make use of education and tourism as a twin-tool to see Africa stabilise economically and politically.

He noted “Tourism has the power to invigorate one’s history, appreciate one’s cultural values and to redefine our existence. Although, major players in the tourism sector do not know the values and power of tourism in a given society, especially Africa. A continent rich in diversities of all sorts. This calls for an urgent need to make tourism as an academic field, in order to re-oriente the government and the people about tourism.”

As regards the image deficit facing Africa from other parts of the world, it is important to note that tourism would serve as an appropriate tool to portray the continent as a world of security, hospitality and tolerance,” he concluded.