Tourism stakeholders reaffirm support for Acting NTDC boss

Hospitality and Tourism stakeholders in the country have promised robust work experiences and insights sharing with Mrs. Mariel Rae- Omoh, the Acting Director General of National Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, as part of efforts to help investors in the tourism and hospitality sector increase their profitability and brand exposure.

They made this commitment during the Stakeholders’ meeting with the acting NTDC DG held recently at the Eko hotels and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos. According to them, her appointment was a prayer answered by God, adding that players in the industry have for ages recommended to the government that individual with professional experience, both in qualifications and orientation, should be appointed to man the Tourism Corporation.

According to them, it was an established phenomenon that private sector all over the world drives tourism sector, when the operational environment is friendly and well-funded.
The experts further stated that if private sector is well funded, the hospitality and tourism sector would generate more revenue than oil, adding that the needed boost that would be stimulated through robust partnership between NTDC and the stakeholders will create viable channel to successfully drive Nigeria’s tourism potential.

In a statement they revealed that “We have made brilliant proposals to NTDC to partner with NTDC in ensuring that money is brought to the industry to drive it.
“there are so many countries actually depend on tourism for their survival, such counties like Spain, Britain, Gambia, Senegal among others.

Speaking further, the hospitality practitioners urged NTDC to make regulation of the industry, one of its top priorities in the subsequent engagement.
They said, “Regulatory frame-work is key to driving tourism and hospitality industry. The management or practitioner is fragmented and that gesture water-down the image and prestige of the industry, unlike the Lawyers, Surveyors and Doctors.

In her reaction to the goodwill extended towards the her administration, the Mrs. Rae- Omoh, who was accompanied by some NTDC officials during the meeting said “My objectives are to raise the NTDC moral to accelerate the mission of boosting the industry; to cordially work with the stakeholders, and to develop a template for running tourism in Nigeria.

We can only achieve our goals when the experts in the sector join their voices and ideas with ours. Then, we will set the goals to be met and come out with a practicable blueprint to achieve the set objectives.

Rae-Omoh described stakeholders as key in any development, explaining that “they must be embraced so as to succeed, especially, in this industry.
“Our basic goal is to sell our country to the world; we cannot do it on the pages of the newspapers. Professionals and stakeholders should be the ones fronting the goals on our behalf; so we need to collaborate with them.

I need a lot of workable advice, suggestions and challenges from those on the field so that the industry can become an economic hold for the country.”
“My objectives are to raise the NTDC moral to accelerate the mission of boosting the industry; to cordially work with the stakeholders, and to develop a template for running tourism in Nigeria.

We can only achieve our goals when the experts in the sector join their voices and ideas with ours. Then, we will set the goals to be met and come out with a practicable blueprint to achieve the set objectives.”
Rae-Omoh described stakeholders as key in any development, explaining that “they must be embraced so as to succeed, especially, in this industry.

Our basic goal is to sell our country to the world; we cannot do it on the pages of the newspapers. Professionals and stakeholders should be the ones fronting the goals on our behalf; so we need to collaborate with them.
need a lot of workable advice, suggestions and challenges from those on the field so that the industry can become an economic hold for the country.

She revealed that the domestic market has been sustaining tours operators, yet, it has not been recognized as a tourism destination.
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mr. Bankole Bernard, said the industry should celebrate the appointment of Rae-Omoh, being an insider who knows where the shoe pinches the industry, because of her readiness to enter practical development and promotion of the industry.

Ayo Olowoporoku of Hotel Supports in his reaction called for a good political will with a good regulatory framework to drive the industry.

He also noted that so many countries in the world, including Kenya, Gambia, Spain, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and South Africa, have benefited from tourism, charged the Federal Government to adequately fund NTDC to enable the country maximally benefit from tourism.
The event witnessed notable industry players including Federation of tourism Association of Nigerian Board of trustees Chairman Chief Samuel Alabi, Chief Executive Officer, Boatman Tartan Jeffy, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, NANTA,Mr. Bankole Bernard and other top industry practitioners.‎