Public health, tourism, and the emergence of pandemics

Abstract

The paper recognises the primary need for national investment in the global and ancient tourism industry, to fill the gap in the economic transition from the depleting oil industry. This paper elucidates on the import of the principles and development of healthy cities in line with global practice and good public health to thrust nations into profitable and sustainable tourism, as a driver for national growth and development, to improve the GDP and job opportunities for the teeming population; and the impact of pandemics. It elaborates and documents the adverse, poor public health indices of Nigeria and indicates the need for urgent and drastic improvement in the deplorable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services which are predominantly donor driven, in order to battle the large-scale endemic Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and annual epidemics of microbial infections. WASH is considered critical to the fight against NTDs, for effective tourism. Human behaviour, such as open defecation and urination, need to be addressed, as conducive health- related behaviour must be adopted as an integral component of tourism development. It is suggested that while different types of tourism should be put in place, medical tourism should be in the fore to reduce the current foreign exchange expenditure of the country as well as improve the public health status of Nigeria. The paper recognises the need to combat the diverse annual microbial epidemics that have occurred over time, negating, and challenging the quest for the benefits of tourism. The need for infrastructural development of transport systems in conjunction with improved civil service administrative structures is indicated; transformational tourism is a political choice. Impact of diverse past and recent pandemics, particularly the COVID-19, on tourism, as well as the global actions to curtail its spread are discussed. The way forward for sustainable tourism in national development for Nigeria is outlined and linked with effective participation of the different arms of governance and the Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the transformation associated with the Sustainable Development Goals. The role of the social media is emphasised. The Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN), a custodian and stakeholder in diseases control and prevention has a vital role to play in the transformational agenda through intellectual contributions and involvement.