COMMUNICATION AND IN : OPTIONS FOR TOURISTS

BY

AGU, CHIDOZIE, S. and OKONKWO, EMEKA E.

ABSTRACT Communication and tourism are intricately interwoven in a sort of web that is better imagined than stated This is because tourism relies on communication to create the necessary awareness of its products; while communication can have increased profitability and programmes enrichment through tourism. Communication pervades and permeates every facet of Iife and in tourism, it is inseparable. Apart from providing support services to tourism, communication enhances the well-being of tourists and provides a wise choice of trips to be made. This paper attempts a holistic exposure of the various communication modes in Nigeria, where they could be obtained, their prices and how they can be utilized by tourists to gain information about the various attractions in the country.

INTRODUCTION while on transit. Tourism is an information based In addition, it is a growing service product in which communication phenomenon that tourists equip technology plays a significant role. themselves with all available information "Contemporary tourists deserve accurate on their proposed destination site before and candid assessment of their embarking on such trip. This makes prospective destinations. In order to information a vital part of tourism. encourage the repeat traff-ic and referral Knowledge of the available business which is the basis of any resort communication options or modes will not development every nation should have only enhance the selection of the best for the technology and the opportunity to tourists prior to their visit but also support present its society to potential visitors" their stay in a destination like Nigeria. (Obayi. 1995). Tourists also desire to Nigeria as a tourist destination possesses a make contacts to their places of origin lot of communication modes that enable

International Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 20 I0 373 374 COMMUNICATION AND TOURISM IN NIGERIA: OPTIONS FOR TOURISTS people to communicate from land, air and communication especially through the water to any part of the country and mass media" (Agee, et. al. 1994). Herein beyond. The various classes of tourists the lies the relationship between world over can then meet their demands communication and tourism. Right from for these facilities which abound in the the conception, introduction and growth country. to maturity and decline of tourism products using the "product life cycle COMMUNICATION AND concept" (Ward, et. al. 1993). TOURISM: THE RELATIONSHIPS Communication is a vital force. It helps in The relationship between creating awareness for these products; it communication and tourism cannot be helps in managing decision making over emphasized. So overwhelming are process and especially in the marketing of the forces of mass communication that we tourism products. These relationships will are all involved, whether you like it or not be examined briefly. (Whetmore, 1985). As rightly argued by To buttress the relationship Agee, et. al. (1994) communications between communication and tourism, it is therefore, play a crucial role in giving poignant to state that communication shape and cohesiveness to our ensures an understanding of the manner "shrinking", complex and often chaotic consumers select their products. As a world. They hold that "the mass media are result, "any explanation of consumer the communication channels that carry behaviour in tourism also needs to be information and ideas around the world. aware of the motivations, desires, Today complex society can function only expectations, personal and social factors because they form part of it, without them affecting travel behaviour. These are in society would be in inarticulate chaos" turn affected by stimuli that promote (Agee, et. al. 1994). They equally pointed travel (e.g. marketing and promotion), out that "life ... depends for direction and images of the places being visited, purpose on messages the media deliver. previous travel experiences, and time and The media flood us with information and cost constraints" (Page 2005). Thus, entertainment" . "what this type of debate on tourists as NO'N, if we understand tourism as consumers shows is that marketing and a social relationship involving a promotion are fundamental in a business movement from a place of residence to that seeks to create a four-step process that other destinations, then, "these takes consumers from a stage of relationships require communication, unawareness of a product or service face-to-face between pairs of individuals through a point where they want to at the simplest level and among groups at a consume it" (Page 2005). more complex level. When large members As aptly argued by Middleton of individuals are involved, often in (1994) the ultimate purpose of groups whose goals conflict. direct communication is to influence buyer personal interaction is impossible and the behaviour and manipulate demand. relationships must be carried out by mass Similarly, ifan 'ideal' product exists and is

All Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies AGl!, CHIDOZIE, S. & OKONKWO, EMEKA E. 375 available to a prospective purchaser, but observed that often people \\ ill look for the purchaser is not aware of it. then for options, re-evaluate them 'IIJ reconsider that consumer. the product does not exist specific places based on Ih. Ir knowledge, (Middleton. 1994). Indeed, if there is no the images portrayed in thl..'dia and the 'reach' there can be no communication. opinions of individualts) -tIle! group But even with maximum reach and members (Page, 2005). advertisement, communication only The relationships between the two occurs if the message is actually received, fields of research could also be viewed is understood, and is of interest to the from the fact that communication is a receiver. Therefore, "international human major driver of changes in society. As transaction and communication are the rightly observed by Go (2005) the inevitable prerequisites of success for complexity of tourism development calls tourist destinations, competiting in the into being the need for the co-ordination international tourism market" (Aktasm of activities by myriad stakeholders and, and Gunlu2005). by extension. ICT. Therefore, the Furthermore, Go (2005) noted that increasing importance of LCT and the advances ofK'T have profound effects corresponding organizational on society, including space-time transformation as drivers of change compression .... the death of distance ... should become a point of attention in and time space distantiation and as a tourism education. He however, cautions consequence, the disembedding of social that it is not IC'T itself that drives change, activities from place ... In tourism, you but rather the way such technologies cause need to connect because of the gap incremental shifts in social adaptation to between the generating regions and the fit successfully into organizations of every destination regions. Go (2005) further day work, consumption and leisure life distinguishes five barriers that (Go, 2005). In other words, tourists get stakeholders must bridge to connect: familiarized to the products of a geographical distance, possibly time zone destination area through communication; difference. cultural differences. destination service providers are shaped infrastructure difference, and governance by communication to formulate their differences. He further stated that there is products. Thus. the main challenge for the a physical gap as a result of geographical tourism industry is to develop products distance. Tourism involves multiple sites. and services that meet the changing needs such as point of origin, stopover. and of the consumer. Change in consumer- destination. Communication closes this values means that tourist will increasingly gap and provides choice options. Page want to undertake new experiences, (2005) avers that a major element in the interact with the community and learn decision to select a specific destination is about a destination at more than a the image of the place. The tourist selects superficial level (Dwyer. 2005). As Page the destination through a process of (2005) sums it. "information technology elimination. but it is not a straight linear is the main driver of change. requiring process from A to B to C. He then better management for tourism operations

International Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 2010 376 COMMUNICATION AND TOURISM IN NIGERIA: OPTIONS FOR TOURISTS to harness their potential. It provides up- consequently harm the destination's to-date information. manages client data. image severely. No matter how distant the and the scope to search for and select a crisis occurred from major tourist spots wide range of products and experiences". and how trivial its impact was in the Communication is also essential tourism industry, the destination could in decision making in tourism and affords lose its appealing image if the negative all a level-playing field to operate. event gets prime time coverage on According to Go (2005), "in the post television or if it reaches the front page of modern era, tourist demand has become newspapers". Hence, "communicating more fragmented and less predictable. among industry residents, and potential Travelers are demanding greater product visitors during and after the recovery variety customized to their unique process through systematic and well requirements, anywhere, any time". He planned marketing activities is required to added that "it leads to a situation, where restore the image of the destination in managers and policy makers must make crisis impaired by the crisis itself. travel decisions on much shorter notice, with advisories, and warnings issued by the information that cannot be easily verified governments of generating markets, the and realize that the potential penalty cost marketing efforts of competitors and in is high. Major developments in some cases exacerbated media coverage" information and communication (Aktas and Gunlu, 2005). As aptly argued technology, including by Taylor and Chesworth (2005) telecommunications, know ledge- based " ... terrorism, war, disease, and natural systems, and database management catastrophes, have been damaging in their system, have provided organizations with own right. Modern communication has systems to support their decision making provided the people of the world with process" (Go, 2005). '''The internet makes front row, centre seats at all of them on an it possible for small businesses ongoing 2417 basis". throughout the world to compete for However, it is in the field of market share on an even footing with tourism marketing that communication market leaders. This is particularly becomes an indispensable tool. Middleton advantageous in the tourism industry (1994) pointed out that as key elements of where overwhelmingly, small firms marketing communications, advertising dominate industry numbers" (Dwyer, and PR are considered together, because 2005). they are primarily concerned to influence On a less favourable level, Aktas people away from places of production, and Gunlu (2005) observed that "along delivery and purchase of products. This with the actual and economic damage influence is achieved through the use of caused by a catastrophic or disastrous press, television, and other mass media ... event, a criss-struck destination may making advertising and PR the most suffer from the perceived damage among pervasive and visible elements ofwhat the potential visitors induced by exaggerated consumer sees of marketing efforts". media coverage, which could Middleton (1994) further holds that "their

An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies A(iU, CHIDOZIE, S. & OKONKWO, EMEKA E. 377 principal role in marketing is to enable information technology has made many producers to reach people in their homes tourism businesses scrutinize their or other places away from where products operations to assess whether they are are sold. and communicate to them operating in an efficient and profitable messages intended to int1uence their manner. purchasing behaviour". It has been rightly observed COMMUNICATION MEDIA AND that "as a service industry, most THEIR VALUES TO TOURISM tourist products are intangible The value ofcommunication services, they are experienced and medium to tourism can be most cannot be touched, tasted, smelt vividly seen by the difficulties or seen and therefore difficult for encountered in tourism tourists to grasp and evaluate. destination marketing. Firstly, Furthermore, the spatial fixity of tourism is fragmented in that tourist attractions and amenities while the tourist looks at a holiday means that a tourist cannot really as a complete "experience", it is assess their quality until he sold in the market place "in bits" arrives at the destination" as beds, meals, tours, seats, etc. (Sheldon, 1997). Howbeit, by a plethora of independent comprehensive, relevant, timely suppliers that operate and accurate information is independently of one another. essential in tourists' holiday Secondly, no one agency controls decision making- process; thus, or can deliver content about a tourism is regarded as a very destination's tourism product as information intensive industry the marketing of a tourism and information is often dubbed destination is shared by another the "life-blood"or "cement" of the plethora of organizations and industry, which holds together the national tourist offices overseas different producers within the located in main generating travel industry airline, tour markets (Sheldon, 1997). These operators, travel agencies, problems are overcome through attractions, car rental, cruise communication which provides lines, and other supplies" tourism with comprehensive (Sheldon, 1997). information about any In sum. "information technology destination. Communication can is now adopted in the tourism sector. and furnish "existing and potential is likely to see further developments that tourists with up to date will allow tourism products to reach a information from a variety of wider audience. Above all, it is making sources, about the destination in society and the consumer more all aspects of tourism tourist demanding and conscious of getting value attractions, tran sporta tion, for money" (Page. 2005). Furthermore.

International Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 2010 378 COMMUNICATION AND TOURISM IN NIGERIA: OPTIONS FOR TOURISTS accommodation, tour operators, into existence on the 1S\ of travel agencies, shopping and January, 1985, as a Department leisure facilities-as well as the in the Ministry by Virtue of Decree background of its people, culture, Number 18 of 1987. The history, economy, climate" organization became a full fledged (Sheldon, 1997). autonomous body in July 1st, 1992" (NIPOST, 1995). NIPOST NIGERIAN COMMUNICATION: renders the following services: OPTIONS FOR TOURISTS Mail Services, Counter Services, In Nigeria, the private and Publicity, Electronic Mail (E-mail), public sectors are involved in the EMS/ Speed Post, among others. ownership and rendering of However, the Nigerian commur.icatir In services. In the Postal Service (NIPOST) mainly past, private sector participation transacts postal business and has was more active in the print wide network coverage all over media, radio and television as well Nigeria. NIPOST has undergone as courier services; while the several re-organizations and government owns both the print innovations to ensure efficiency in and electronic media as well as its service delivery. One of such regulates the private sector (Agu, innovations is the commencement 1996). But with the of the postcode system, which commercialization and divides Nigeria into nine postcode privatization as well as the zones, each of which is identified national reforms programme, by figures one to nine in the first private sector involvement in the digit. A postcode zone is further electronic media has increased divided into postcode areas, each tremendously in recent times. of which is identified by a postcode Prior to the commencement (NPCD, n.d.). Presently, Nigerian of Global System of Mobile (GSM) postcode system is made up of six communications in 2001, two digit codes of the form: 345125 government parastatals NIPOST where the first three digits (345) (Nigerian Postal Service) and represent the dispatch component NITEL (Nigerian and the last three digits (125) Telecommunications Ltd)were the represent the delivery component key communication service (NPCD,n.d.). providers in Nigeria. They were formerly the department of Post Figure 1: Map of Nigeria and Telecommunications (P and Showing the Postcode Zones of T)."The Nigerian Postal Service, an Nigeria. autonomous entity in the Federal Ministry of Communications came

An Interdtsciplinary Journal of Communication Studies AGU, CHIDOZIE, S. & OKONKWO, EMEKA E. 379 13, 000 telex lines in the network. With the introduction of digital system into the network from 1990, the total installed capacity of telephone lines is expected to reach one million by this century (NTD,2000). About 400, 000 ofthe existing capacity are digital lines. Other relatively new services provided by the company are the IMMARSATService and Computer Oriented Switch for International Telegraph (COSIT) Service, Network Paging Service, Audio Mail Service and Internet Service. Source: Nigerian Post Code But the Nigerian Directory (n.d.) Telecommunications Ltd as a result of the on-going economic The NIgerian reforms programme has been sold Telecommunication Ltd (NITEL) to a multinational company - was set up in 1985 as a fully Transna tional Corporation commercialized company, to (TRANSCORPS)in July 3, 2006. render public network Consequen tly, a lot of re- telecommunication services in organization is currently taking Nigeria. It operates a three tier place in the establishment. organization structure i.e. Furthermore, satellite Corporate Headquarters, Six communication has greatly Zonal and 39 Territorial improved world information Administrations, a system that dissemination and most big enhance s decen traliza tion. establishments and some Currently, the six zones of NITEL influential personalities in Nigeria are: South-West zone with today possess satellite ditches and headquarters in , North- televisions. Even cable services West zone with headquarters in are available. As rightly argued by , North-East zone with Dennis (1993) we have moved from headquarters in Bauchi, South- the rhetoric of such cliches as the West zone with headquarters in "age of information" and the Ibadan, South-East zone with "communication revolution" into a headquarters in (NTD, period when we are transm~tt~ng, 2000). processing and r e c e iv i n g NITELLtd has a little over information with the help of 70,000 telephone lines and about lntemationul Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 2010 380 COMMUNICATION AND TOURISM IN NIGERIA: OPTIONS FOR TOURISTS microchips , sate lli tes, and An added impetus to the computers; thus, we use VCRS, improved communication in all video discs and on-line data bases. parts of the world, particularly in "We do work in personal Nigeria is the Internet. The computers and subscribe to video Internet is an interconnected text services as we adopt the system of networks that connects varIOUS broad-band computers around the world via communication activities" (Dennis the TCP/IP (Transmission Control 1993). Protocol/Internet Protocol). As Information technology has rightly argued by Zhenhua (2000) added colour to the improvement it is a network of networks that of worldwide communication consists of millions of smaller modes. Information Technology domestic, academic, business and (IT) is permeating the entire government networks, which tourism industry; it is being used together carry various information for a variety of functions ranging and services such as electronic from an internal organizational mail, on-line chat, file transfer, role to external communication and the interlinked web pages and between the different parts of the other documents of the World industry (Bennett and Redburn, Wide Web (www). In particular, 1991). IT is the collective term many news media such as given to the most recen t broadcasting stations developments in the mode (www.cnn.com, www.bbc.com, (electronic) and the mechanisms www.presstv.com. etc) and (computers and communication news pap e rs technologies as well as the (www.nigeriamasterweb.com) can software which derive them) used now be accessed through the for the acquisition, processing, Internet. Latest news are analysis, storage, retrieval, communicated faster across wide dissemination and application of geographical locations; thus, information (Bennett and reducing the world to a global Redburn, 1991). Communication village(Sheldon, 1997). within the tourism industry in Other modes of some parts of the developed and communication which have developing countries of the world stamped their influence in Nigeria is now principally conducted and which have great relevance in through the medium of tourism are Newspapers, Computerized Reservation System Magazines and Books. We have (CRS) and View-data, which private and government owned together have replaced the use of newspapers. The federal and state telephone and the post. governmen ts own assorted

All Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies AGU, CHIDOZ1E, S. & OKONKJf/O, EMEKA E. 381 newspapers in the country, television stations in major urban though magazines are mostly centers in Nigeria. Minaj privately owned. Some of these Broadcasting International (-MBI), newspapers are daily, others African Independent Television weekly, while the magazines are (AIT),Real Power FM and Rhythm mostly monthly publications. FMetc. falls within this group and Notable examples of newspapers tourists can pick information in Nigeria are The Sun, Vanguard, about the destinations visited Guardian, The Independent, The through these avenues. Punch, among numerous others. Finally, the entrance of the Magazines include: Newswatch, Global System of Mobile Tell, West Africa, The News, etc. Communication (GSM)operations We also have specialized In 2001 revolutionalized newspapers and magazines that communication in Nigeria. Thus, deal squarely with such areas like the era of GSM technology has health, aviation, tourism, etc; completely changed the face of examples of such in house doing business in Nigeria (Ajala, m a g a z i n e s are Tourist 2005). GSM is founded on the International, Travel and Tourism concept of roaming allowing Guide, etc. customers from other networks Courier services also have and countries to use their mobiles contributed a lot to the while they visit any country or enhancement of communication network. At the moment, there are in Nigeria through parcels and five major GSM operators that mail delivery. In fact, it changes control the GSM market in Nigeria every time as virtually every major among which are Mobile transport organization in Nigeria Telecommunication Network has added a courier service to its (MTN), Celtel (Zain) Network, line of products. Courier service Globacom (Glo mobile) Network, providers in Nigeria include DHL, Etisalat Network and Nigerian UPS, FEDEX, REDSTAR, IFEX, Mobile Telecommunications EMS, among others. Added to Limited M-TEL (the mobile these are Federal and State owned subsidiary of the national carrier Radio and Television Stations NITEL).The market share of these dotted all over the country. The GSM operators (MTN 40.54%, Federal Radio Corporation Zain 30.20%, Glo Mobile 28.11, (FRCN), Enugu State Etisalat 0.7%, and M-Tel Mobile Broadcasting Service (ESBS) etc phone business of NITEL 0.45%) typify these modes of indicate that MTN enjoys the communication. We also have greatest patronage. "It was privately owned radio and predicted that between 2003 and

Internationul Journal of Communication No. 12 December,20J() l81 COMMUNICATION AND TOURISM IN NIGERlA: OPTIONS FOR TOURlSTS 2006, Nigeria's GSM market media (Eze, 2006). In addition, to would be Africa's fastest growing the problem of power supply in the market, and this prediction has rural areas, Nigerian dailies and been fulfilled" (Ajala 2005). A weeklies are completely absent in cursory look at the table below the rural areas. Albeit, problems depicts the various networks in such as illiteracy, transportation Nigeria and date of and finance have equally hindered commencement of service in the or prevented the rural dwellers country. from going to the cities or. urban Table 1: Nigerian GSM Networks areas to buy these dailies. It is also S/llo lIetworb Date of Web Site Addren true that poor reception of media CommeDCemeDts ofSemces operations in many areas erodes OS. the thirst for their use. 1 MTNNigeria May, 2001 www.mtnonline.com Communications www.rntnnigeria.com Consequently, information gap is Limited --- created. 2 Globacom LId lGlo July, 2003 www.gloworld.com Mobile) In Nigeria, the 3 Celtel Nigeria LId December, 2008 www.zain.com I(Zain) .' communication systems are 4 Nigerian Mobile oCtober, 200 1 www.mtelnigeria.com mainly situated in urban centers; Telecommunications LId (M-TEL) thus, telecommunication density 5 Etisalat January 2007 www.etisalat.com.ng CDIIA ProdIctSe&meDt in the urban is about 65% while 6 Multilinlls Network December 1997 www.multilinks.com semi urban is about 45% and rural 7 Starcomm Network ---- www.starcomm.com 8 Zoom lformerly Reltel) ---- www.zoom.com/nigeria is less than 15%. As aptly argued Network by Eze (2006) rurally targeted 9 Bourdex Network --.- www.bourdex.com 10 Rainbownet Network September 2006 \\'\\"W.rainbownet.net.ng programmes do not exist and even II Telae! Niieria Lid ---- www.telnet.com.ng where they exist, are token and mostly inadequate. This is However,the above outlined because they are rural in 'form' communication media are fraught but urban in 'tone and soul'. with poor services, lack of Incidentally, most ofthe important equipment, low coverage and and enchanting tourist attractions outright dependency on foreign in Nigeria are located in the rural media among numerous other areas. The same could be said of shortcomings. For instance, in GSM operation most of which do majority of the rural areas, not have network coverage reception of Nigeria media extended to the rural parts of transmissions is either poor or Nigeria. unavailable. Thus, the Nigerian However, communicating media industry relies on the could be likened to one who wants western information system for to get a relief, settle puzzles and news about the world, and they express one's mind or experiences. run commentaries on the pieces of There is also a choice before the information provided qy western r An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies AGU, CHIDOZIE, S. & OKONKWO, EMEKA E. 383 person especially to determine code system, they will be whether the message to be delivered. NIPOST has the Postal communicated requires privacy or Agencies at the rural area level, not. The choice at any particular sub-post offices at the community point in time will depend on a level, post offices or district offices number of variables, including the at the major urban centers in communication options at the Nigeria; Territorial Headquarters disposal of any destination. or head offices at the State capitals Ordinarily, we have direct and and finally, the NIPOST indirect communication modes, Headquarters at Abuja., which which involve sender to receiver controls the entire postal system channel and sender through a in Nigeria. third party to the receiver methods NlPOST normally operates of transmitting message. Most from Monday to Fridays especially intra and inter personal from 8am to 5pm in all the areas. communications involve direct But in major urban cities, they communication; while mass open on Saturdays and Sundays communication involves indirect on half day services (8am 12pm). communication. NIPOST, Courier NIPOST handles letters, parcels, Service providers offer direct cash etc; both within and outside communication systems, and the coun try. Their charges are NITEL,Internet Service Providers, from the postage stamps which GSMoperators among others offer range from fifty naira to five indirect communication systems. hundred naira. Its EMS/ Speed As these facilities abound in post sub-section, categorizes Nigeria, the choice is at the delivery destinations into five disposal of the different tourist in nationwide: inter-regional, intra- the country to pick the best from state, inter-city and direct; and the the available options. charge per service is measured in Domestic and international kilogrammes and ranges from Two tourists in the country who wish to Hundred Naira (?200.00) to about express their minds about the Two Thousand, Six Hundred and country, her people and culture as Fifty Naira (?2,650.00) to One well as places of visit, will find Hundred and Fifty Naira putting these in writing as the best (?150.00). The international option. And these could safely and letters and merchandise have reliably reach their targets charges that range from Nine through the post offices. NIPOST Thousand and Forty Naira offers fivecategories of post offices (?9,040.00) to about Sixteen and once the mails are properly Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty addressed in line with the post- Naira (?16,150.00). NIPOST also

International Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 2010 384 COMMUNICATION AND TOURISM IN NIGERIA: OPTIONS FOR TOURISTS offers philately services and sells Table 2: MTN Calls Prices (Per commemorative stamps to the Min. and Sec. Tariff) public. So, tourists that are

philately inclined could avail S/~O xrrx Services Peak Peak Off·Pt!ak Off- (Per See) (Per iP~r Peak themselves of such service. :;'linl See) [Per Min)

NITEL,GSM operators and \iT\ iO \1T\ (,(!l~ :)Ok ::~U _.·~.~.h 2:>.:lk Internet service providers offer a :>~:.:--~~~~~~~ifi~~o~~i;,~~~~pe~~i;~~CB;il·{~t__ 12

> \;T:< :,:1 ~.:·i-\:-;\!S .7 - - variety of options for tourists in :f: . . 1.') demand for communication j,>h/kh ;'-)~,'k.!) services. However, another person Table 3: MTN International ROaJIling Rates _._ can intercept the messages that .~.1~_(),..vi~.~.~~_~_~_~_~;l~_'.'!!.()E...._..._.____. _C,~~~.!~~~j_G:hana Be~_i~.. Per Minute Rate in Naira are conveyed through NITEL A - -·-VoI~~~iij:i:~~·- .--~:- -__~~:-.- facilities. But if one required urgent message especially that needs personal contact with the receiver, then their services are vital. NITELand private telephone B companies (COMA product segment) in Nigeria such as Rainbownet, Mobitel, Starcomm, Zoom, Visafone, Multilinks, Bourdex etc provide land lines and /"\1::;U, n n.er rre L IJUU!l1ug 1::; u ic wireless telephone; each GSM cheapest form of telephone. operator MTN,M-TEL,Globacom, Electronic mails have enhanced Celtel (Zain), Etisalat etc provides written communication by telephone services through quickening delivery of mail on the handsets and their charges are instant irrespective of calculated in per minute/second geographical location (Edafiogho, billings. They offer both local and et. al. 2006). Moreover, international calls with prices communication satellites have differing at peak and off peak given the world population high periods. MTNand Zain have wide quality twenty-four hours a day spread coverage throughout sound and visual communication. Nigeria with MTN outsmarting News is available on the air as it other providers in wide coverage. happens (Mills, 1983). Though International calls could also be restricted in the urban areas made through these services but whereas the tourist attractions are subject to varied charges. The located more in the rural areas, price of MTN services provides a through these means, tourists good example. equally receive information about what is going-on in their home countries.

All Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies AGU, CHlDOZIE, S. & OKO.\"KII'O, £.l/EKA E. 385 Furthermore, information Hundred Naira (?200.00) and can largely be conceived as above. Both of them feature local constituting the tourism product and international news. Though since it is characteristically not paid for, the possessions of a intangible, perishable, volatile and radio set and television is all that heterogeneous. Consequently, is required to access both local information assumes a vitally and international news. "The important role which in turn combined sciences of aerospace, generates a need for it. The radio, television and electronics tourism industry in general is have done more than any other ideally suited for computer 20th century technological technology (Bennett and Redburn development to make a reality of 1991). It requires a system of the visionaries' dream of the world registering availability oftransport as a global village; faraway places and accommodation at short have become very near to all of us notices; of making immediate (Mills,1983). reservations, amendments and cancellations in such facilities; of CONCLUSION quoting complex fares and This exposition on conditions of travel; of rapidly communication and tourism processing documents such as elegantly indicate that there are tickets, invoices, vouchers and numerous communication types itineraries, and for providing in Nigeria. Improvements have accoun ting and manage men t taken place here and there among information (Bennett and the various service providers but Redburn 1991). In Nigeria, the several hiccups are still facilities are available in major noticeable. Mail theft, 419 urban cities but are presently letters/electronic mails/GSM utilized by multinational calls, fluctuations in the services organizations and big hotel of GSM operators in Nigeria, chains. Tourists that can afford among others make nonsense of them could equally take their efforts. But a good, efficient advantage of this new technology and effective communication is in service ofcommunication. e sse n t i al in any so c i e t y Newspapers, magazines, particularly Nigeriaifwe should be radio and television play recognized as a good tourist important roles in information destination region. The onus is gathering and dissemination in now on both the private and Nigeria. Newspapers cost from government communication Eighty Naira (?80.00) and above; service providers to ensure quality while magazines cost from Two service delivery.

lnternutiouul Journal {~rCOIIII"Ulli('(ttiOlI No. 12 December,20W 386 COMMUNICATION AND TOURISM INNIG£RIA: OPTIONS FOR TOURISTS Finally, there are several GSMin Nigeria. Accessed communication options for 11/08/2006. tourists to utilize from while in Nigeria and it behooves on each Aktas, Gurhan and Gunlu, Rbru category of tourists to make the A. (2005) "Crisis Management right choice that suits his or her in Tourists Destinations" budget. in Global Tourism. William F. Theobald (ed.) Third Okonkwo Emeka and Agu Edition. USA: Elsevier Chidozie teach in the Department Bu tterworth- Heinemann. of Archaeology and Tourism at the Pp.441-447 University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Mr. Okonkwo can be reached at Bennett, M. and Redburn, M. [email protected] and (1991) "Information Mr. Agu can be reached at Technology in Tourism: [email protected] The Impact on the Industry and Supply of Holidays", in M. Thea Sinc1dir and M. J Stabler (eds.) The Tourism References Industry: An Interactional Analysis. UK: CAB Agee, Warren K., Ault, Philip H. International. Pp. 6-46 and Emery, Edwin (1994) Introduction to Mas s Dennis, E. (1993) "A Coming of Communications. Eleventh Age: Sea Changes for the Edition. USA: Harper Collins Mass Media", in S hi r ley College Publishers. Pp. xi and Biagi (ed.) Medial Reader: 4. Perspectives on Mass Media Industries, Effects and Issues. Agu, C. S. (1996) Communication USA: Wadsworth Publishing and Tourism in Nigeria. Company. Pp.12-13 Unpublished Postgraduate Seminar. Department of Dwyer, Larry (2005) "Trends Archaeology. University of Underpinning Global Tourism Nigeria, Nsukka. in the Coming Decade". In Global Tourism. William F. Ajala, Ireti (2005) GIS and GSM Theobald (ed.) Third Edition. Network Quality Monitoring: A USA: Elsevier Butterworth- Nigerian Case Study. Heinemann. Pp. 539-542 (Available online) www.google.com/GIS and Edafiogho, D. O. C., Ihedioha I.

All lnterdlsciplinary JOUr1la/ of Communication Studies AGU, CHIDOZIE, S. & OKONKWO. EMEKA E. 317 and Onugha, l. U. (2006) National Telephone Directory Quick Training Man u a I (2000) The Phone-Book. 7th on Internet Resources, Edition. Nigeria: I C I C Research and Electronic (Directory Publishers) Ltd. Referencing. ICT Capacity SP.37 Building Programme. Universi ty of Nigerian Nigerian Post Code Directory (n.d.) Nsukka. P.7 NIFOST Directory. Nigeria: Daily Graphic Ni g e ria Eze, M. C. (2006) "Global Ltd, Ibadan. V. Communication Order and PoliticalApathyin Nigeria: Nigerian Postal Service (1995) An Inquiry into the Problems NIPOST Diary. Lagos: Nigerian of Rural Mass Mobilization", Postal Service Ltd. P.3 in Nnayelugo M. Okoro (ed.) International Journal of Obayi, C. N. (1995) "Unfettered Communication: An Media and Tourism Interdisciplinary Journal of Development". Daily Communication Studies, Star. Wednesday, June 7, Number Four. Enugu: P.11 Ebenezer Productions Nigeria Ltd.P.11 Page, Stephen J. (2005) Tourism Management: Managing fOT Go, M. Frank (2005) Change. Lon don : "Globalization and Emerging Elsevier Butterworth Tourism Education Issues". Heinemann. Pp.63-354 In Global Tourism. William F. Theobald (ed.) Third Edition. Sheldon, P. J. (1997) Tourism USA: Elsevier Butterworth- Information Technology, Heinemann. Pp.490- 502 Oxon: CAB International. (Available online) Middleton, Victor T.C. (1994) www.tourinfor.com/info . Marketing in Travel and Tourism, Second Edition. Taylor, Gordon D. and Chesworth, Oxford: Butterworth- Nancy E. (2005) "Travel Heinemann. Pp.53-164 Styles". In Global Tourism. William F. Theobald (ed.) Mills, E. C. (1983) Design for Third Edition. USA: Elsevier Holidays and Tourism. Butterworth-Heinemann. London: Butterworth P.301 and Co. Publishers Ltd. P.13

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An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies