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“South Africa Should Exploit Tb Joshua’s Tourism Potentials”
A South African tourism expert has called on his government to embrace controversial Nigerian cleric T.B. Joshua and tap into the wealth of economic potentials available in religious tourism.
Unathi Henama, a lecturer in the Department of Tourism Management at the Tshwane University of Technology, wrote the article in South Africa’s most popular online news portal, ‘News 24’:
“TO write about any religious leader is always harder than writing about a politician. I have had enough time to ponder the reaction to this article and I have decided that compliments and condemnations will be treated with the same appreciation.
“My article seeks to ignite a public discourse on aspects related to tourism economics, which have received little to no attention in the media. I would therefore ask for humility in the reading and assimilation of this article. The sociology of public discourse in South Africa of late has been laced with hate speech, and a lack of appreciation of divergent views. A total of 84 South Africans were killed when they were in Nigeria to attend a church service by TB Joshua – a tragedy.
“The majority that lost their lives are South Africans and not all the bodies have been repatriated back to South Africa. This remains tragic, as this robs families of the opportunity to find closure by burying their loved ones, in line with customs and beliefs.
“The Synagogue Church of All Nations plays an important religious role in the lives of its congregants. TB Joshua has gained prominence for his calling in religion, and has been able to attract multitudes of followers. These multitudes that follow TB Joshua, would rightfully seek to visit the shrine in Nigeria.
“TB Joshua from time to time undertakes a journey to visit destinations on a pilgrimage to meet congregants. After the loss of life in Nigeria, TB Joshua made a commitment to visit the families of those in South Africa who had lost loved ones. The commitment by TB Joshua to visit South Africa has been met by a continuum of responses, from those that are welcoming to those that call for the arrest of TB Joshua on his arrival in South Africa.
“I would rather suggest a win-win from the tragedy in Nigeria. We must not be scared to turn lemons into lemonade. The role of the intelligentsia in society is to challenge the beliefs of society, to remind society of unknown knowns and, most importantly, to challenge the stubbornness of society’s stratified relations.
“Congregants from South Africa and other countries greatly benefited the tourism industry in Nigeria. When visitors arrive in Nigeria they would have flown in, they would be in need for accommodation, travel services and obviously some shopping would also be necessary.
“It is advisable not to tell someone in South Africa that you are going outside of the country because they, yes I mean they, would make a trolley full of demands, without contributing to your pocket fiscus. Therefore, these congregants would attend the church services and benefit spiritually.
“TB Joshua is a very powerful man and like a tide into a beach, he does not come alone. Yes, he does not come alone. South Africa should embrace TB Joshua. Let us forget religion for a minute and let us think of the economic value of each congregant that visits and think of their overall economic contribution, all following TB Joshua.
“Macufe, hosted in Bloemfontein over two weeks, presents a gospel festival on the Sunday of the first week. Immediately after the two weeks of Macufe, the city goes back to the less than full restaurants, the less than 60% of occupancy in hotels, and a decrease in arrivals. Tourism is a highly competitive industry and it requires constant creativity to gain a competitive advantage. TB Joshua has the ability to provide any secondary city with the competitive advantage of attracting tourists to a destination.
“This will keep the restaurants full, keep the accommodation establishments full, and attract visitors with full wallets. Close your eyes and imagine this reality of tourism economics. Imagine TB Joshua being invited to come to Bloemfontein for a week to use the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium as the site for this church service. This would be post Macufe events. In tourism we always seek to ensure that tourists extend their length of stay and increase their expenditure at the destination.
“Also, the growth of At Boshoff’s Christian Revival Church (CRC) in Bloemfontein can possibly make Bloemfontein South Africa’s newest post-apartheid Moria. Again, I was only reflecting on tourism economics and its ability to change the economic destiny of a destination by creating jobs and improving the quality of life.”
According to official figures released by Nigeria’s immigration service, T.B. Joshua’s church is responsible for 60% of foreign travel to the nation. UK’s Guardian newspaper reported that The SCOAN’s weekly visitors even surpass those of Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London.
Posted by Kunda
on October 23, 2015. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Canker Worm
October 23, 2015 at 10:30 am
TB Joshua, the Chief Public Relations Officer of DEMONS
true
October 23, 2015 at 2:21 pm
Better to be quite than show ignorance.GOD always watches his word to execute judgement.No matter how long it takes, judgement will come.
samson
October 23, 2015 at 11:10 am
I wish we could invite Him here in Zambia because the benefits are indeed many. The next prayer and fasting for next year should be planned to incloud TB Joshua and it should be for two weeks
Canker Worm
October 23, 2015 at 11:23 am
Iwe SAMSON, how do we invite an agent of the Devil to conduct prayers for the country. You want the country to be in a total mess.
Liyah
October 23, 2015 at 12:07 pm
@Samson I scond to that!
MR.....!
October 23, 2015 at 12:40 pm
God is Great! he provides
Aponcha Warrior
October 23, 2015 at 12:51 pm
Is T.B Joshua a MAN OF GOD or a MAN OFF-GOD (a person dinning with the devil and not with God)
true
October 23, 2015 at 2:19 pm
Timely Warning. Better to be quite than call any man of GOD names.GOD always watches over his word to execute judgement.
observer
October 23, 2015 at 3:01 pm
The article is a Wake up call to all of us to treat our people with respect especially the Clergy.you never know people like Bishop Imakando brings the needed foreign exchange from the religious tourist.
LADICIOUS
October 23, 2015 at 3:55 pm
@ canker worm,it,s you who is a demon of destruction just like your name.
Ngalande Lukuku
October 23, 2015 at 6:41 pm
This article is spot on. Apart from spiritual benefits people will visit South Africa more especially the entire Southern Region. What does this mean? It means a boom to the economy in terms of tourism. I wish we could reflect as Zambians and invite prominet people to visit our nation. Zambia will never be the same. The author of the article is right and the South African should swallow the bitterness and allow Tb Joshua to visit them. There is both spiritual gain and economic gain too.
Goodz
October 23, 2015 at 6:53 pm
A False prophet on way to S .Africa after offering so many soul to the devil. Shame!
New Educated Zambia©❤√
October 23, 2015 at 7:49 pm
In other words this man is being clever and saying that it is very easy to influence gullible africans whose brains have been eroded by poverty. Even here in zambia the pf is taking advantage of ignorant and illiterate people to vote for them. We in UPND have made it our mission to sensitize zambians and change their mindset inorder for them to realise that upnd is the only party to change things
wamushe
October 24, 2015 at 9:42 am
I would like him to come to zed and meet hh we clear things once and for all since he has proved to be a slipery character whenever prayer meetings are called he ducks..
Umuntu
October 23, 2015 at 10:01 pm
Joshua is Man of God Full stop
zambian
October 23, 2015 at 11:34 pm
God bless tb joshua,peace and love to u all,,,amen
WAPA ZED
October 24, 2015 at 6:37 am
Our God exposed him wen da building colapsed
munyumbwe
October 24, 2015 at 6:58 am
This is the kind of thinking we need from our ministers, think out of the box. Not always what other ministers were doing is what they are doing now. Lyonse ati explore this site or that site. Tbj is not just a man of God but a crowd puller. Our ministers think well above board twapapata!
ISIL
October 24, 2015 at 7:05 am
Ba TB kuwayawayafye but South Africa will economically benefit!!!
ISIL
October 24, 2015 at 7:08 am
Bakeseko namuno kusuka twashitishako samoosa kubachimpwena
Kalampa 4 lyf
October 24, 2015 at 10:57 am
General Prophet TB JOSHUA,Prophet JEREMIAH OMOTO,DR OLUKOYA,Prophet SHEPHERD BUSHIRI,DAVID OYADEPO are real anointed Men of God.Actually the are bigger than lucifer who some people worship and exalt.Insult them at your own peril.At the prayer and fasting on the 18th many of the prayers read out aloud were written by aforementioned Men of God.