FTAN vows to promote sustainable tourism

Members of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) have resolved to speed up tourism development in Nigeria. To this end, the group has enunciated a new eight working plan for the years 2017 to 2019 to to drive FTAN’s tourism initiatives and development agenda across the six geo-political zones and the Federal Capital.

The group met on Thursday, September 14th ,2017, at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island Lagos, on the occasion of the bi-annual Council Meeting, where the new FTAN executive members were presented.

The new FTAN National Working Councils consist of the Hospitality, Resort and Leisure Services; Transportation, Tours and Travel Services;

Tourism fairs, Marketing and Investment Services; Manpower Development, Legislation and Standards; Tourism Facilities, Support and Allied Services; Intergovernmental Relations; Finance and Investment Services, and Public Communications.

Over the years, FTAN’s council meetings had been the decision-making event of the Federation.

Hence, last week’s meeting was an epoch-gathering one in which far-reaching decisions were made, and it ended with a two-year rolling plan built around some newly created FTAN National Working Councils.

, FTAN President,Alhaji Saleh Rabo, who chaired the meeting, in his opening speech, charged his members to “join the New Order of friendship and camaraderie in FTAN that began since the election of the new FTAN executive members in June 2017.”

He 
reiterated that,“I believe that FTAN council meetings are moments ‘to put our heads together’, and set our differences apart, to come up with action plans towards a robust and sustainable tourism economy in Nigeria.”

Rabo further called on FTAN members, and Nigeria tourism stakeholders, not to be lethargic. He called on all to “rise up to the needs of the moment, and give our best to both sanitize and grow the business environments of tourism in Nigeria.”

Accordingly, the National Working Councils were approved to facilitate FTAN’s tourism initiatives and development agenda across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria and the Federal Capital.

In this regard, FTAN’s council accepted the Working Plan for years 2017 to 2019; and, immediately also, setup eight National Working Councils, whose membership include Associations’ Presidents, Associations’ Secretaries and other capable members within the Associations.

This is the first time FTAN is activating the Federation’s constitutional provision to establish some National Working Councils, also known as ‘Working Committees’, to oversee the implementation of FTAN’s strategic decisions towards a sustainable tourism industry in Nigeria, and professionalism in hospitality enterprise management.

More so, FTAN constitution stipulates the establishment of such standing national working councils to serve as operations, services and business agencies.

The council also approved, the short, medium and long- term development plans as proposed by FTAN Executives, which includes among other things, securing technical supports

and assistance from UNWTO to set up local structures for tourism and hospitality peer review, standardization of tourist services, enrichment of tourism assets, improve destinations services and provide value for tourists.

This aims to increase the number of arrivals and increase the length of stay of inbound tourists.

There’s also the target to liaise with Bank of Industry (BOI), and any newly created development bank, to source for Tourism Intervention Funds for FTAN members to secure and invest in tourism projects in Nigeria;

as well as, to collaborate with Nigeria’s Economic Management Team to implement tourism policies as alternative for national poverty reduction in the rural areas and to jump start regional economic development.

It would be recalled that the Lagos Council Meeting of September 14th was the first time any FTAN council meeting was held outside Abuja.