Tourism
PROF. Abba Tijani, Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, has called for relaxation of immigration controls, removal of visa requirements for tourists to boost the sector.
Tijani made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ibadan as Nigerians marked, World Tourism Day (WTD).
Tijani said to change people’s negative narrative about tourism, infrastructure such as roads, airports, railways, electricity and water supply around tourism sites should be improved upon.
According to him, there is also need to improve security network in the country.
“When the country is not safe, tourists are discouraged to come in, therefore, there should be secured environment for effective development of tourism.
“Deregulation of the tourism sector and allowing free investment in the sector would encourage investment in the sector.
“Improving tourist facilities like hotels, restaurants, golf courses etc. are germane,” he said
He also called for participation of the private sector, community driven initiative and involvement of non-governmental agencies in tourism.
On this year’s theme: ‘Rethink Tourism’, he said rethinking tourism held the key to developmental strides for developing nations such as Nigeria.
He reiterated that WTD celebration was important as it had helped to foster awareness of tourism’s social, economic and political values toward the realization of development sustainable goals.
“Tourism promotes cultural exchange between locals and tourists. It helps create thousands of jobs in different sectors and encourages infrastructural development as well.
“So a serious look at developing the sector is the sure way to go. Tourism has helped many nations out of financial woods.
“Nigeria can invest on tourism and use its potential for economic growth of the nation; especially now that oil has proven inadequate to sustain the economy of the nation.
“Stakeholders should work toward making travel accessible to all to sustain the sector,” he said.
Also, the Oyo State Tourism Board Chairman, Mr Debo Adejumobi, said Nigeria was blessed with many natural resources and there was a dire need for all to rethink tourism in Nigeria.
“We can upscale Nigerian tourism to meet international standards by renovating our destinations, improving the tourist’s experience, better managing the impacts of tourism, and encouraging positive spillover effects on the wider economy.
“We need to begin to take the tourism and hospitality industry seriously as a nation by paying attention to all our natural resources.
“For example, our destinations can attract tourists, not just within but also outside Nigeria if we can make the sites vibrant places to visit.
“Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing sector in the world economy, and its potential remain very strong.
“In developed countries, tourism contributes an average 4.1 per cent of GDP, 5.9 per cent of employment and 21.3 per cent of service exports,” Adejumobi said.
World Tourism Day has been held on September 27th each year since 1980. The date marks the anniversary of the adoption of the statutes of the organization in 1970.
The adoption paved the way for the establishment of United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) five years later. (NAN)
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Tags: National Commission for Museums and Monuments Prof. Abba Tijani United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
