Expert harps on repositioning Nigeria’s tourism industry
ln a bid to boost business in Nigeria, an expert has said there is the urgent need to take critical steps to repositionn the tourism sector so as to need take of its inherent benefits, including job opportunities, recreation,as well as increasing the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP..
Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mr. Folorunsho Coker made these assertions during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Victor Ndoma-Egba, held at Abuja recently.
The NTDC boss said that it was necessary to redefine the tourism sector, by giving it a brand identity that is easy to sell in order to stimulate economic growth.
He said, “There is need to redefine the tourism sector in Nigeria, we need to start within our domain, focusing on consumption of our assets, promotion and development of domestic tourism.”
According to him, “Everyone in the value chain of tourism, must work together and be ready to drive the market with a new brand, TOUR NIGERIA.”
Coker, said, “One of my strategic imperatives is to bring all stakeholders under one umbrella to sell a single all-inclusive tour packages for Nigerians; we need to package tourism in a simple manner that the average Nigerian can use, if we do not package it well, individuals cannot take advantage of it. Nigerian will understand the product better, because they are a most critical audience; and will demand better value for their money.
He, however, expressed his commitment to partner NDDC to ensure a quick intervention on some tourism assets while leveraging on strategic project in the South South region of the country, bearing in mind that all the assets are domiciled in the states and local government areas.
On the contrary, Coker, who also called for a conscious investment in the promotion of domestic tourism, described Nigeria as a vibrant and dynamic business environment.
Responding, Chief Ndoma-Egba,who congratulated the DG NTDC for his appointment, given his exploits in the Lagos State Tourism Ministry, said, “We are very happy that you are at the helms of affairs in NTDC, we are very proud of what you did in Lagos State, you are on a bigger stage now; and we expect you to make a difference in the tourism sector as you did in Lagos.”
Ndoma-Egba, a one-time Senator, said NDDC was an intervention agency, whose core mandate is to integrated and create partnerships with relevant agencies, like NTDC, especially now that there is a shift from oil; he believes that if tourism can change the economy of Calabar, it can also impact Nigeria.
According to him, NDDC’s mission is to facilitate the rapid and sustainable development of Nigeria.
The NDDC chairman solicited the support of the DG to intervene in the on-going case with the Calabar National Museum, which is a National Monument and as such, cannot be tempered with.
Egba said that we are in the digital era, advising tourism industry top key into it, especially, through adaptation and deploying the best technology along the tourism value chain.
