ENHANCING NIGERIANS’ TRAVELLING CULTURE by WALE ADETARAMI

Nigeria with a population of about 160 million is in western part of Africa. A sub-Sahara African country blessed with both human and natural resources.

Nigeria has 5 operational International airports, with Lagos airport as the second busiest airport in Africa and accommodating the major airlines in the world. There is direct flight from Nigeria to Morocco, Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Turkey, South-Africa, England, United Arab Emirate, France, Netherlands, Qatar, Germany and some more; and with a stopover or two, you can travel to any part of the world from Nigeria! So, what are you waiting for?

Statistics reveal that 90% of Nigerian travelers travel for businesses, exhibitions and conferences, while a meager 10% of them travel for holidays and tours. It is not that Nigerians do not like to travel; so many factors are keeping the majority back from exploring the world. Some of them are highlighted below:

Economic Situation / Cost of Travelling:

Most Nigerians are low income earners, a lot of people are underemployed, and people are battling to meet up with the necessities of life and for this, travelling abroad for holiday is a luxury. We cannot compare Nigeria and some other developing countries with the developed nations in terms of income and earnings.

Embassies Denying Visa Applications:

A lot of Nigerians who have genuine reasons for travelling have been denied entry visa by the embassies and consulates of the various foreign countries in Nigeria. This problem has to do with the improper ways of assessing applications. One little error (even in filling application form would not be verified) leads to outright denial. Everybody is talking about the image of Nigeria/Nigerians abroad, cases of abscondment is reported to be rampant and the embassies are being over protective of their countries/economies. In future, we will need to develop a proposal to the embassies to allow the travel agents be part of the visa processing, the agencies who have now been turned to mere ticketing offices would be saddled with the tasks of due verifications of information supplied by applicants. This would be done in an agreed time frame.

Employers:

It is worthy of note, that the few employers who pay good wages utilizes the time of their employees to the fullest, to the extent that they offer to pay cash in lieu of annual leave. In this scenario, there is enough money, but there is little or no time at all to go on vacation.

Lack of Travel information and Packages:

A lot of people who are willing and able to travel in terms of affordability often do not even hear of travel deals and packages, some of them are in the informal sector where they hardly make use of the print and electronic media, another set are those who believe travelling is for people who are relocating from the country for greener pastures overseas. They don’t really believe one can go to other country just to spend time and come back. In this case, a lot of work still needs to be done to sizzle them and arouse their interest.

Fear:

Aviophobia or aviatophobia (fear of flying)  is common not only in Nigeria but all over the world. These people don’t fly; though the statistics is not available right now, but it is a disadvantage to the business of travel and tour in Nigeria.

Frustration in getting Required Documents:

Some embassies will ask applicants to get tax clearance certificates, yellow fever immunization card, bank statement, letter from employer; copies of pay slip and so on. There is always this red tapism and bureaucracies surrounding the processing of these documents, frustration and ill-patient often make people look for alternative which at the end affect their applications negatively. Some people get tired halfway, when getting the documents is next to impossible. We must put structures in place, for instance, tax payers should be able to get clearance certificate as and when needed, banks, hospitals, employers should be careful and timely in granting requests that bother on travelling.

Stiff and Unjust Requirements;

Holiday makers get frustrated when you ask them to pay N750,000 bond to get a visa to a particular country. If this is not nipped in the bud, other embassies will come up with policies that are capable of killing the travelling and tour business.

Some Nigerian travels agencies have come up with initiatives to encourage holidaying and vacations, they have come up with packages that allow you to pay over a period of time, they have established links with the best travel companies in the world, through them you can enjoy your holiday and tours in about 285 resorts in Africa and 3,000 resorts in the rest of the world. They help you to book for your hotel/resort, airport transfer, buy your air-ticket, and give useful visa application assistance.

Some of the international airlines berthing in Nigeria daily are: Air France, KLM, Turkish Airline, Kenya Airline, Royal Air Maroc, South Africa Airline, Etihad Airways, Emirate Airline, Qatari Airline, Lufthansa, Arik Airline, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Iberial, Delta Airline, Eqypt Air, Ethiopian Airline, AirRwanda, etc.

WALE  is the CEO of, VOXDEI TRADE PROMOTIONS AND TRAVELS LTD

For enquiries and business, contact us via:

voxdeitp@gmail.com, +2347036308255

follow us on twitter: @TravelsNaija

69 FUN FACTS ABOUT FRANCE

1. There is a Victor Hugo street in every town in France.
2. It’s illegal to name a pig Napoleon in France.
3. Charles VIII had six toes on one foot and hid this fact by wearing and promoting square toe shoes.
4. The guillotine was the official method of execution during the French Revolution. It was invented by a surgeon named Dr. Guillotin.
5. France produces over 400 types of cheese!
Language:
6. French is the official language of many countries including: Switzerland, Canada, Ivory Coast, Luxembourg, Monaco, Congo and Niger.
7. The word “salut” means both “hello” and “goodbye”
8. French was the official language of England for over 300 years.
9. It’s the mother tongue of 75 million people worldwide.
10. It’s the second most commonly taught foreign language, after English.
11. It’s the official language of the United Nations.
12. It’s the only language (along with English) that’s taught in every country in the world.
13. Crayola is a French word that means “oily chalk”
14. At the time of the French Revolution, 75% of French citizens didn’t speak French as a mother tongue.
15. Non-French celebrities who speak French include: Jodie Foster, Johnny Depp, Diane Kruger, Elton John, Ewan Mcgregor, Halle Berry, Jackie O, Madonna, Mick Jagger, and John Travolta.
16. 34% of the French can speak English.
17. Between 6-11 million Americans speak French.
18. Mont-Blanc is the highest peak in Europe
19. The heir to the French throne was called Le Dauphin, which also means “dolphin.”
20. The French eat snails, frog’s legs and horsemeat.
21. In 1386, a pig was hung in France for the murder of a child.
Love and Romance
22. The number of times the French kiss each other as a form of greeting varies depending on region. In Corsica, the number of kisses can be as many as 5! (If you have a hot first date, you now know where to go)
23. According to a 2003 survey, the French have the most sex in a year (unsurprisingly!)
24. It’s illegal to kiss on railways in France (oops).
25. “French kiss” is a term by the English as a slur on the French culture which was thought to be overly concerned with sex.
26. In France, it’s called a tongue kiss or soul kiss.
27. French men have the lowest level of obesity in the EU, and women are second after Denmark.
28. The French have one of the highest life expectancies in the EU (I think there’s a strong correlation of this fact to #23)
29. First Lady Carla Bruni has been known to have a string of relationships with famous men including Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger and Donald Trump.

Travel, Culture, and Innovations
30. Coco Chanel’s real name was Gabrielle Bonheur.
31. France has the highest number of ski resorts.
32. The French had an early version of the internet called Minitel, where as long as 1984, they could pay bills and shop at home using the Minitel service.
33. France is the most visited country in the world with 75 million tourists yearly.
34. The first department store was founded by Aristide Boucicaut in 1838l
35. France has wont he most Nobel Prizes for Literature than any other country in the world, and the second most in mathematics.
36. France created the first universal declaration of human rights in 1789.
37. France ruled the second largest colonial empire in the world controlling 8.6% of the world’s land.
38. Famous French inventions include: the hot air balloon, the submarine, and the parachute.
39. In 2004, the French produced 56.6. million hectoliters of wine.
40. French liquers include: Grand Marnier, Triple Sec, Cognac, Armagnac, Pastis and Cointreau.
The French Revolution
41. The storming of the Bastille was more of a symbolic act. During that day, there were only 7 prisoners and 4 of them were there because of check forging.
42. “Let them eat cake” was a statement falsely associated with Marie Antoinette as it was created ten years before she was born.
43. The guillotin was last used in 1977.
44. It was during this time that the French invented the metric system.
45. More than 15,000 people were beheaded at the guillotine.
46. Louis XVI assisted in perfecting the guillotine.
Paris, the city of love
47. 20% of the French live in the Parisian region.
48. Nicknamed “city of lights,” lights actually refers to the number of intellectuals who live there.
49. Jim Morrisson and Oscar Wilde were buried in the Paris cemetery called Pere Lachaise.
50. The Eiffel Tower is painted every 7 years.
51. The Eiffel tower was originally intended to be dismantled and sold as scrap after its construction.
52. There are more Bretons (From Britanny) in Paris than in Britanny.
53. The oldest bridge in Paris is called Pont Neuf (new bridge).
54. The most visited attraction in Paris isn’t the Eiffel Tower (5.5 million), or the Louvre (5 million), but Disneyland Paris at 13 million people.
Misc
55. French film production is second in the world.
56. Napoleon was 5’6.
57. French toast and french fries aren’t French inventions.
58. The croissant was actually invented in Austria.
59. The ministry of health once tried to promote milk as the national drink of France (ha!)
60. France is about the same size as Texas, with twice the population of California.
61. France is home to 28 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
62. There are about 2 new cook books that are published everyday in France.
63. Drugstores in France usually have a neon green cross on the door57. French toast and french fries aren’t French inventions.
64. If you cross your glass with someone else when toasting, you will receive 7 years of bad sex.
65. Grasse, France is known as the Perfume Capital of the World.
66. About 20& of French territory lies outside Europe.
67. Wearing a white wedding dress is a French tradition which began in 1499.
68. France was originally named Lutetia.
69. It’s against the law to take pictures of police officers and police vehicles.

From: Confessedtravelholic

PLEASE NOTE THESE BEFORE YOU FLY

Domestic/ International Flights
Photo Identification are required on all flights and passengers are required to check-in at least 2 hours before departure for Domestic and International Flights. For all international flights, passengers are required to provide valid international passports.
Passports, visas etc

After getting your visa and buying your ticket,  please make sure you find out about other travel documents you need; such as vaccine certificates, hotel reservation prove. If you do not have the right documentation you could be barred from getting on the plane. If you manage to board the plane, you may be refused entry into the country when you arrive at your destination and be flown straight back. If this happens, you will not be entitled to a refund from the airline.

Special Needs
Some of our passengers may require special needs eg.

1. Unaccompanied Minors
Airlines will only accept responsibility for unaccompanied minors between Airports where the child embarks and disembarks. Children must be accompanied as far as the airport and the parent/guardian escorting the unaccompanied minor must remain at the Airport until the flight departs.
2. Physically Challenged
  Most Airlines provide special arrangements for the physically handicapped with prior booking/request. Wheel chairs are available also, with prior arrangement.
3. Blind/Deaf
Prior information is vital for these passengers to be accepted by Aero with special needs. Aero will provide assistance at check-in, boarding and departure only.

WHERE IS AIR NIGERIA?

Billionaire businessman, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim suspended the operations of Air Nigeria Airline in June, 2012.

 According to him, the airline was sick and needed a corporate surgery that would last a whole year. The thinking of Nigerians was that by June, 2013, the airline would be back and running.
This is July and we are yet to see the return. The planes are still grounded, employees laid off and there is no sign or any information from the management about their return. Nigerians are faced with  inadequacy of airlines/airplanes for local travels, most flights tickets are sold out. Whatever the case maybe, we expect to hear from the management of the airline soon.

REFLECTIONS ON VISA AND MIGRATION IN NIGERIA

By  Wale Adetarami 

One of our followers on twitter contacted us; she narrated how she was denied a visa by the British embassy in Nigeria, this experience made her choose a research topic on visas and immigration in one of her thesis at school. She sought our opinion on certain issues and we responded swiftly. 

TOP 10 PLACES TO VISIT IN GERMANY

Best known for its famous Oktoberfest and World War II history, Germany is also home to some of Europa’s most beautiful scenery, fairytale castles, important historic sites and lively party scenes. Located in the heart of Europe, Germany maintains the continent’s most powerful economy. An overview of the best places to visit in Germany:

10. Leipzig

The largest city in Germany’s federal state of Saxony, Leipzig is known for its vibrant arts and culture scene shaped by famous music composers like Bach, Richard Wagner and Felix Mendelssohn. Tourists today can enjoy performances of Bach’s music at the St. Thomas Church where Bach once served as choir leader and is now buried.

9. Rugen Island

Located in the Baltic Sea, Rugen Island is the largest island in Germany, connected to the mainland by the Rugen Bridge and Rugen Causeway. Charming villas, romantic seaside resorts and beautiful beaches all draw tourists to Rugen Island, but the star attraction is the Jasmund National Park, famous for its unique chalk cliffs rising 528 feet (161 meters) over the sea.

8. Romantic Rhine

flickr/ctankcycles

Stretching between the cities of Bingen and Bonn, Germany, the Middle Rhine flows through a dramatic geological formation called the Rhine Gorge. This region features a spectacular landscape dotted with some 40 medieval castles, picturesque villages and terraced vineyards. The best way to experience the Romantic Rhine is by a riverboat cruise.

7. Cologne

Situated on the Rhine River in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne is one of the most popular places to visit in Germany. The city offers a vibrant array of attractions, buzzing nightlife and a stellar arts and culture scene. Cologne also packs impressive landmarks such as the city’s informal symbol, the Cologne Cathedral, a stunning Gothic church.

6. Dresden

Before it was severely damaged from World War II bombings, Dresden was known as the Jewel Box because of its lavish collection of stunning art and architecture. After many years, the city has restored much of its former glory. The capital of the federal state of Saxony, Dresden offers a number of historic sites like the stunning Frauenkirche cathedral.

5. Lubeck

As one of the largest Baltic seaports in Germany, Lubeck is located in the country’s northern-most state, Schleswig-Holstein. Founded in 1143, Lubeck served for several centuries as the capital seat of the Hanseatic League. Although it was the first German city to be bombed and damaged during World War II, Lubeck still retains much of its medieval architecture, making it a popular tourist destination.

4. Heidelberg Old City

With historic treasures like the medieval Old Bridge, the Heidelberg Castle, the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Knight St. George House, it is no wonder that Heidelberg is a popular tourist attraction. The city center’s main street, Haupstrasse, is packed with pubs, restaurants, museums, art galleries, shops and markets selling the likes of beer steins, cuckoo clocks and German sausages.

3. Neuschwanstein

The most photographed building in Germany, Neuschwanstein Castle, is also one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. Nestled among the breathtaking beauty of the Bavarian Alps near the town of Fussen, this fairy-tale castle served as the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

2. Munich

Best known as the origin of the world famous Oktoberfest, Munich is one of the best places to visit in Germany with a great culture scene. Munich is home to several sophisticated opera houses and theaters like the National Theatre. The city center is an attractive blend of classic and modern architecture, teeming in historic churches, medieval walls and royal palaces as well as bustling shopping centers and nightlife venues.

1. Berlin

A federal state and the capital city of Germany, Berlin is widely associated with its World War II history and former division of East and West Germany by the Berlin Wall during the Cold War. Since the fall of the historic wall in 1989, Berlin today is now a vast, unified city diverse in ethnic groups and abundant in sightseeing attractions, museums, sports, culture and nightlife.

Touropia
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BEST TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN ENGLAND

There’s no shortage of cliché-ridden ideas about England: From double-decker buses, thatched cottages and country houses, village pubs and cream teas, eccentric aristocrats and cold, grey and rainy weather. Visitors however will find that it doesn’t rain as much as they had heard, that Indian restaurants far outnumber fish-and-chip shops and that there are a surprising amount of great tourist attractions in England packed into a relatively small area.

10. Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian’s Wall was built by the Romans to protect their colony Britannia from the tribes in Scotland. It stretches for 117 kilometers (73 miles) across the north of England from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. Construction started in 122 AD following a visit by Roman Emperor Hadrian, and was largely completed within six years. Today only stretches of this famous wall are still visible. There is a national path that follows the whole length of the wall from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway.

9. Warwick Castle

Originally a wooden structure built by William the Conqueror in 1068, Warwick Castle was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century. During the Hundred Years War, the facade opposite the town was refortified, resulting in one of the most recognizable examples of 14th century military architecture. In 2001, Warwick Castle was named one of Britain’s “Top 10 historic houses and monuments” and is one of the top attractions in England.

8. Lake District

Located in north west England in the county of Cumbria, the Lake District is the largest National Park in the country. The main attraction is the lakes and fells (mountains and hills) carved by glacial erosion and providing dramatic and inspiring scenery. It is England’s premier destination for hiking and climbing. The park is visited by about 14 million national and international tourists each year.

7. Tower of London

Now home to the British Crown Jewels, the Tower of London served as a prison from 1100 to the mid twentieth century. The castle was founded in the winter of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England and served as a royal residence before it became a prison. The Tower of London is reputedly the most haunted building in England. There have been tales of ghosts, including that of Anne Boleyn, inhabiting the tower.

6. The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds refers to a range of gentle hills in south central England, the main range reaching 330 meters (1083 feet) in altitude at its highest point. The region is known for the stone-built villages, historical towns, and stately homes and gardens. The Cotswolds are a popular attraction in England, within easy striking distance of London and several other English urban centers.

5. Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral, in the city of Durham in northeast England is the greatest Norman building in England and perhaps even in Europe. It is cherished not only for its architecture but also for its incomparable setting. The foundation stone of Durham Cathedral was laid on August 12, 1093. Since that time, there have been major additions and reconstructions of some parts of the building, but the greater part of the structure remains true to the Norman design. In a nationwide BBC poll held in 2001 Durham Cathedral was voted England’s best-loved building.

4. York Minster

One of the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe (alongside Cologne Cathedral in Germany), York Minster dominates the skyline of the ancient city of York. York Minster incorporates all the major stages of Gothic architectural development in England. The present building was begun in about 1230 and completed in 1472. The “Great East Window” inside the cathedral is the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world.

3. Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is often called the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world. It is one of the official residences of Queen Elizabeth II who spends many weekends of the year at the castle, using it for both state and private entertaining. The earliest surviving buildings at Windsor date from the reign of Henry II who came to the throne in 1154. Much of the castle, including the magnificent State Apartments and St Georges Chapel can be visited.

2. Big Ben

The 150 year old Big Ben Clock Tower is one of London’s top attractions. The name Big Ben actually refers not to the clock tower itself, but to the 13 ton bell housed within the tower and takes its name from the man who first ordered the bell, Sir Benjamin Hall. It is the 3th largest free-standing clock tower in the world. The clock has become a symbol of the England and London and has appeared in many films. In the movie Mars Attacks! for example the Big Ben is destroyed by a UFO attack.

1. Stonehenge

One of top tourist attractions in England, Stonehenge is among the most important prehistoric sites in the world. It was produced by a culture that left no written records so many aspects of Stonehenge remain subject to debate. Evidence indicate that the large stones were erected around 2500 BC. It is not known for certain what purpose Stonehenge served, but many scholars believe the monument was used as a ceremonial or religious center.

Touropia

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