“The Sector Is Thriving But Not At Our Expected Pace”

Tabufor Mercy Akwa, North West Regional Delegate of Tourism and Leisure.

How is the leisure and tourism sector faring presently in the North West Region, following the socio-political tensions?

By leisure attractions, we are referring to night clubs, restaurants, snack bars, amusement parks, grills and the likes. Inasmuch as this crisis which began in November 2016 has impacted negatively on the leisure sector, this does not imply that the leisure sector is dead in the region. We still have night clubs which are functioning during the normal days when they use to function. Most function from Thursday to Sunday. The most interesting situation now in the North West Region is bar dancing. It is attracting many customers and its bringing in quite some income.

Is that how you would have loved it to be?

It is not how we would have loved it to be. But the sector is on and thriving but not at our expected pace.

What do you make of the security dispositions taken by the State?

Presently, we have more regular patrols in the night and we have security forces stationed at various check points. I want to think that this helps the people to feel safe. If people are able to go out at night for leisure, it is because they feel safe. And so, many people have made a storm in a teacup about the insecurity in the North West. It is true. I can say without fear of contradiction that no tourist has ever reported harassment in the North West Region as a result of the crisis. We don’t have any such report. The situation is not bad because the northwesterner is a hospitable person and very receptive. The northwesterner by his very nature is welcoming.

Have you been putting an eye on the informal sector?

The Ministry of Tourism and Leisure is the supervisory authority of all leisure and tourism est...