Nigeria: LCCI Lauds NTDC Over Domestic Tourism Drive 24th Oct. 2014 | Leave a Comment Lagos — The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has commended the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) under the leadership of Mrs. Sally Mbanefo for striving to push domestic tourism to the front burner , just as it called on governments at all levels in the country to pay huge attention to tourism development. Speaking last week at the 2014 symposium and luncheon organised by the Hotel, Tourism and Entertainment Group of the LCCI, President of the Chamber, Alhaji Remi Belllo, said recent figures by the National Bureau of Statistics show that the tourism and allied sectors have promising potentials for growth in the Nigerian economy. The theme of the symposium was: The Needs of the Tourism Industry in Nigeria. He said the rebased GDP figures show that arts, entertainment and recreation sector recorded real growth of 63.54 percent between 2010 and 2012 and that the job creation report on NBS for first and second quarters of 2014 stated that the sector recorded 0.11 and 0.17 percent respectively. This, he said, is an indication of the potentials of the entertainment, recreation and arts sub-sectors. He added: It is also interesting that this sector can mitigate the problem of rising youth unemployment in the country. We must at this point call on government to pay attention to the supporting services sectors such as aviation, transport, modern technology that powers electronic transactions, and security in our attempt to promote tourism in Nigeria. If we must promote tourism in Nigeria, these sectors must be well fixed. Apart from the sting of Ebola Virus Disease that was near an epidemic, the Nigerian tourism industry has also suffered from the scourge of insurgency that has sent fear into potential foreign tourists to Nigeria. However, with the right regulations, infrastructure and requisite investments, Nigerias tourism sector can get stronger. He added that there are wonderful beaches stretching over 7000 kilometres, unique wildlife and the biggest cultural attractions in the world such as the Azumini Blue River in Akwa Ibom State; the Ibeno Beach in Alkwa Ibom State; Rojenny Tourist Village in Anambra State; the Yakari National Park in Bauchi State with its world class Wikki Springs. Others are; the Hills of Benue, the Ikogiosi Warm Spring in Ekiti State, Obudu Cattle Range in Cross River State, Agbokim Waterfall also in Cross River State, the Birni Kudu rock painting in Jigawa State and the NOK Village in Kaduna . He then commended the efforts of the Director General of NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, who has visited most of the prime tourist sites in Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Anambra, Abia, Rivers, Bayelsa, Plateau, Taraba and Adamawa states. The sector, he said, has noted her relentless efforts in developing the domestic tourism in Nigeria. We implore her not to relent in her efforts, he concluded. In her speech at the event, Director General of NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, called on the leadership and members of Lagos Chamber of Commerce not to relent in their efforts towards supporting the development of tourism in Nigeria as stakeholders strive together in building the country of their dreams and making Nigeria, Africas tourism destination hub. The domestic tourism market has a very high revenue and job creation potentials. Nigerias domestic tourism potential tourism contribution to GDP is valued at appropriately N1.3 trillion with a 2.6 percent contribution to total employment at 1,636,500 jobs. She added that out of 4.8 billion tourist arrivals globally per year, four billion or 83 percent respond to domestic tourism. Tourism development in most rural areas is capital intensive due to lack of basic services. Since government resources are limited and the demands for them are very high, collaboration between private and public is critical, she stressed. On the achievement of the Corporation in recent past, Mbanefo was of the opinion that domestic tourism market has a very high revenue and job creation potentials and as a result of this, the NTDC focused on developing domestic tourism as the foundation for attracting international tourists. She said the Corporation has made advocacy visits to foreign embassies, CBN, Auditor Generals Office, Budget Office, Nigerian Airspace Development Agency, Minister of Finance, Fiscal Responsibility and Federal Character Commissions, National Planning & SURE P and others with the view to sensitise them on domestic tourism. The Corporation has also achieved an unprecedented milestone in collaborating with the diplomatic community, who have committed to NTDC to market their nationals to Nigeria.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 05:47:50 +0000