The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and stakeholders in the tourism, travel and hospitality business have launched a collaborative effort to develop tourist sites in the country.
This followed the assurance given by the Acting Director-General of NTDC, Mrs Mariel Rae-Omoh, that the Corporation would work with stakeholders in the sector to project the nation to the world as a preferred tourism destination.
The Corporation said the stakeholders have chosen Abuja for the pilot scheme with three tourist sites-Abuja Children’s Park and Zoo; Wild Life Park and Zoological Garden; and Jabi Lake- as beneficiaries of the structured development.
A statement by the Corporation quoted Rae-Omoh to have said, at an interactive meeting with stakeholders, in Lagos that her major goal is to key into the federal government’s overall objective of boosting the nation’s economy through foreign exchange earnings by showcasing the country’s tourism potential to the outside world.
According to her, “My objectives are to raise the NTDC morale 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 important in any development, and explained 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 or clutch for the country.”
She underscored the need to boost the morale of the staff members, saying it would further accelerate the mission of bolstering the industry.
She added that tourism, when fully developed and promoted in Nigeria, would create wealth and jobs, and ensure unity in the country.
The stakeholders promised to support and collaborate with the NTDC to achieve Rae-Omoh’s lofty goals for the industry.
They described her appointment as an answered prayer by players in the industry who have been desirous to have a professional, both in qualifications and experience, as the head of NTDC.
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.”
The stakeholders, who noted that so many countries in the world, including Kenya and South Africa, have benefited from tourism, called on the federal government to adequately fund NTDC to enable the country maximally benefit from tourism.
Rae-Omoh, at another meeting in Abuja where the plan to kick-start development of tourist sites was agreed, restated her commitment to working with stakeholders in order to move the industry forward, stressing “it is best to work with stakeholders because they are the ones driving the industry.”
The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) President, Chief Tomi Akingbogun, expressed the readiness of the association to work with NTDC to propel rapid development in the sector, but advised the Corporation to include the association in its planning for international tourism events.
Acting Director, Parks and Recreation, Architect Ali Ukele, commended the move to launch the development of the tourist sites in the country from Abuja, adding that his organization has a master plan for Jabi Lake, “to develop it to Water Base Resort Park of international standard.
Ukele disclosed that “there is a litigation issue on the site, and we are working to resolve the case; once this is done, work can begin on the lake. Also, there is an issue with the military on the Abuja Park and Zoo, but it will be sorted out soon.”
Ex-officio of FTAN and National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Alhaji Rabo Saleh, called for priority attention on domestic tourism, explaining that “the high exchange rate is seriously discouraging participation in international tourism event, hence it is expedient for us to create activities in Nigeria to stimulate domestic tourism.”
