By Idris Alooma
Nigeria’s Minister of Tourism trade and Development, Mrs Lola Ade-John, says that government will mobilise the country to support National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA) Nigeria appearance at the world most famous tourism and travel trade exposition, the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, come November.
The minister who was visibly excited about the selfless determination and commitment of the private sector travel trade professional’s body to market and promote Nigeria, noted that NANTA’s patriotic push and desire to fly the flag of Nigerian cultural tourism values and offerings deserves the support of all Nigerians, particularly the state governments.
To add flip to government intervention and support, the minister stated that the ministries of culture and tourism recently joined hands together to approach all 36 state governments to join the advocacy campaign to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural tourism resources to the world.
“We are upbeat about supporting your association and looking forward to being at the WTM. NANTA has shown capacity and technical knowhow to stay ahead of this noble gesture, and as government, the minister of culture, and myself have met and agreed to support institutions such as yours to project this campaign which is part of the government intention to provide direction for the private sector to create jobs and gain knowledge of how to welcome and satisfy visitors to Nigeria, she stated.
The minister further explained that she needs the support of NANTA and the organised Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria to turn around the fortunes of tourism in Nigeria.
“By mid-September, we shall unveil the tourism policy, listen to the private sector operational ecosystem, discuss data and statistics ethos which will help us plan, motivate, and inspire a reward ecosystem for private sector visibility and ownership of the sector. Our noble role is to offer guidance and assistance where necessary and ensure discipline so as to mobilize the informal sector and formal economy to improve our services, products, and offerings.” She added
The minister prayed for sanity and collaboration in the industry, worried that the extreme bickering and animosity among practitioners are distractive and could ambush the progressive efforts both in the public and private sectors to have an organised bankable cultural tourism economy.
“I will work hard to enthrone harmony and togetherness. I don’t like to pull any official pressure to just show I am the minister of tourism. I would like to be out there, working than sitting down here and receiving visitors and talking. We must work together, and I must confess that the media, even though critical of our activities, are veritable partners. We shall work with the Nigerian tourism media, this is not negotiable, but they must be patient with us, though not too silent.” She stated
On visa issue, the minister said the issue is receiving attention from the interior minister, and very soon, the change will be visible. She also assured that Nigeria would return to winning ways soon but urged all Nigerians to put their hands behind the efforts by the government to create an atmosphere that is acceptable and welcoming to both Nigerians and the visitors.
“I believe in the power of our domestic tourism, getting Nigerians to love Nigeria, visit each other and appreciate our rich sociocultural diversity. NANTA is big and huge, and I am sure together, we can make Nigerian culture and tourism trade great and very attractive,” the Minister enthused.
Speaking earlier, NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami, who led the association’s executive members, which included Immediate Past President, Mrs Susan Akporiaye, First Deputy President Pastor Chinyere Umeasiegbu, Financial Secretary, Yinka Ladipo, Vice President, Abuja Zone, Mrs Uloma Ibiwari Kamebonta, Internal Auditor, Johnson Ugochukwu and Stanley Digi, Chief Administrative Officer, informed and asurred the minister that NANTA is Nigerian cultural tourism centric and would do its best to be good ambassadors of the country within and outside our shores.
He noted that the association has taken it upon itself to market and promote Nigeria at the World Travel Market ( WTM) in London, a project the association has done successfully in the past two years, committing huge funds and energy.
“It is a heavy burden for us, but we felt we must help our country in times of need to help tell the stories of our rich cultural and historical diversities, and we have no regret doing it because we believe in the Nigerian Project” he explained, adding that NANTA expects the government to support the drive to bring Nigerian cultural tourism to the market place of global tourism and travel business.
“We honestly received some encouragement from NTDA and NCAC in the past. But we want to have a bigger Nigerian project at WTM and having done it successfully in the past two years, with the Nigerian students community in the United Kingdom turning out to support our initiative, we wish that government should be part of the marketing and promotion movement which would help attract not only visitors traffic but also critical investment to the country.” NANTA president stressed.
