Expert Solicits Lawmakers’ Support on Tourism to Boost Nation’s Economy, Generate Employment

Paschal Emeka, Abuja Posted 11th December 2024

In order to boost the nation’s economy and generate employment, the Senate has been advised to encourage tourism sector of the economy.

This advice was handed to the lawmakers by the Assistant Director, Department of National Transportation Bureau, (NTB), Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Dr. Victor, Chimereze Uche.

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He also urged public and private organisations, companies, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), transporters, business men and women, and well – to – do individuals in the society to invest in the industry, as well as collaborate with the NTDA, so as to develop the sector.

While stressing the need for all hands to be on deck to develop the sector, he commended the Director General (DG), NTDA, Folorunso Coker for initiating transformations and innovations in the agency.

Among the innovations the DG introduced in the agency, according to him were: ‘The TOUR NIGERIA,’ brand to drive domestic consumption of tourism products in Nigeria, in order to commercialize tourism and generate employment.

“This informed that the brand is hinged on the identification, exploration, exposition, enhancement and promotion of creative assets across the country using sustainable approaches.

Coker, he went on, introduced, ‘The Use of Digital Technology to Revamp the Tourism and Hospitality Industry amid COVID-19 and Security Challenges in Nigeria.”

Through a bill he sponsored, according to him, Coker changed the name of the agency from Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), to NTDA, and amend the NTDC Act, with the reason that the new law will also boost collaboration between the federal, state governments and private sector, among other innovations and achievements.

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Hailing the Director, NTB, Akinyele Michael Olufemi, for all he has been doing to meet up with the mandate of the department, the Assistant Director enumerated some the NTB’s services, which he said, had been yearning for encouragement, to boost the country’s economy.

Some of the services, according to him are supply of vehicles, tour packaging, locally and internationally business partnership to improve tourism revenue generation, operate inter and intra state bus hire services, partner with transpot companies, like Innoson Motors, Peace Mass Transport, ABC, God Is Good Motors, Ekeson Transport Company, Gubara Transport Limited, etc.

Other services, include: event management, train stations and docks management, locating markets for tour services in and around Nigeria, including selling tour packages abroad, stimulating, generating traffick for major tourism events and festivities in Nigeria, support, collaborate with local and foreign tour operating firms in travel businesses, and setting the standards for potential tour operations and travel agents to emulate.

Added are: facilitating public, private partnership in tourism business, render support services to tour operators/travel agents, the general public on tour guide/bus hire services, offer consultancy services on tourist attractions/destination, hotels, tourists, etc, partner with multinational companies, hotels, airlines and others for efficiency, mural business relationship.

The rest are: liaising with private tour operators and foreign tourists, marketing Nigeria as an international conference destination, with emphasis on package tours, generating revenue for the country and, responsible for the direct sales of Nigerian tourism experience, pleasure, events, cuisines, fashion, arts, and crafts directly to tourists.

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All these, he said would create employment if the agency is properly encouraged.