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A scholar of hospitality, travel, tourism marketing, and development at the University of Calabar, Prof. Bassey Edu, has advocated the introduction of hospitality studies at the senior secondary level as a general studies course in tertiary institutions.
The 136th inaugural lecturer of the University of Calabar( Unical), Prof. Bassey B. Esu has advocated for the introduction of Hospitality Studies at the senior secondary level as a basic course and as a general course in tertiary institutions.
Prof. Esu stated this recently at the Unical International Conference Centre while delivering the UNICAL’s 136th inaugural lecture on the topic, “Hospitality-Centric Philosophy: The Spirit and Soul of Destination Product and the Piggyback of Development”.
He emphasized that the discipline is crucial in inculcating humanity, adding that it should be taught from an early age.
He said introducing the programme will help shape the minds of young people and prepare them for careers in the hospitality industry.
He also called for the establishment of a Department of Hospitality Orientation in the Federal and State Ministries of Culture and Tourism.
The scholar stressed the need for destination managers to invest in high-quality hospitality and standardized service delivery to enhance visitors’ experiences which, according to him, is a precursor to sustainable destination development.
He posited that hospitality is not just a custom but a social currency more valuable than reputation hence the need for hospitality-centric destinations to develop Standard Operating Procedures to ensure that service delivery meets international best practices.
To maximize the benefits that destinations derive from strategic hospitality orientations, Prof. Esu advocated for organizations in the hospitality service ecosystem to build ‘philoxenic’ organizations by implementing hospitality-centric programs.
He emphasized the need for managers to ensure that all non-human customer contact points, such as roads, parking spaces, restrooms, hostels, and banks, convey a sense of hospitableness.
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