The purpose of this paper is to offer an opportunity to reflect on government-led initiatives for addressing human capital development (HCD) in Cross River State (CRS), the widely…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to offer an opportunity to reflect on government-led initiatives for addressing human capital development (HCD) in Cross River State (CRS), the widely acknowledged number one tourism destination in Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
A descriptive case study of the CRS government’s initiative to build and consolidate the human capital base for an emerging tourism destination is presented.
Findings
The findings show that HCD initiatives emerged as a result of a public–private collaboration between CRS and the Citizens Development Corps (CDC).
Originality/value
Using a real-life example, this paper demonstrates how the government in an emerging nation can initiate positive policies to advance HCD in tourism.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to review contributions made to the strategic question about human capital development issues in the hotel industry in Nigeria and how they can be…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review contributions made to the strategic question about human capital development issues in the hotel industry in Nigeria and how they can be addressed.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the strategic question, a critical analysis of each contribution was carried out to identify the key themes, and then the issues, impacts and proposed solutions related to each theme.
Findings
The findings show eight key themes related to the human capital development question in the hotel industry in Nigeria.
Research limitations/implications
The findings create a framework to kick-start a conversation by all stakeholders in the hotel industry in Nigeria. The lack of reliable data in many areas is a limitation in reaching empirically based quantitative conclusions. It would be useful to include a wider range of stakeholders in the conversation.
Originality/value
All ten articles have contributed different perspectives to the conversation; all confirm that an engagement of all industry stakeholders is critical if a sustainable resolution is to be achieved.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to profile the Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes issue “What are the issues facing human capital development in the hotel industry in Nigeria and how might…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to profile the Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes issue “What are the issues facing human capital development in the hotel industry in Nigeria and how might they be addressed?” with reference to the experiences of the theme editors, contributors from industry and academia and the theme issue outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses structured questions to enable the theme editors to reflect on the rationale for their theme issue question, the starting-point, the selection of the writing team and material and the editorial process.
Findings
Concerns have been raised about the absence of a strategic government policy for human capital development in Nigeria’s tourism sector, a task that individual businesses address in a fragmented and inefficient manner – and sometimes not at all. Likewise, a weak regulatory framework has given rise to imbalances in the employment relationship and business operations that do not create an enabling environment, a primary condition for developing knowledge, skills and attitude to acceptable service levels.
Practical implications
This paper reflects a sustained dialogue between leading Nigerian academics and senior industry practitioners about the barriers to workforce development and ways of unlocking the potential that exists for employment and professional development in hospitality and tourism.
Originality/value
This paper reports on the first comprehensive set of discussions between academics and practitioners about the human capital development challenges facing the hospitality and tourism industry in Nigeria. Specifically, the theme issue identifies key action steps needed to keep pace with industry development in Nigeria – the largest and fastest growing market in Africa.