Group tasks FG on tourism, travel

The Federal Government has been urged to pay more attention to the tourism and travel sectors of the country as they have the capacity to transform the economy.

Making the call in Lagos during SKAL International Day, which held at Lufasi Nature Park along Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, President, SKAL International Lagos, Rita Ofure Obidike said that with the right type of support from the government, tourism could provide jobs for millions of Nigerians.

SKAL is a professional organisation of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship.
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It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry.

Its members, the industry’s managers and executives, meet at local, national, regional and international levels to do business Among Friends.

Obidike, however, expressed happiness that state governments are beginning to give tourism the needed assistance because of sudden realisation that it is a money spinning venture if well harnessed.

She lamented that most of the problems arose because they were not partnering with the right people.

“If they put people in the right strategic places, I bet you, they will go far. If they partner with us, I think tourism will go a much higher like huge employment and help to boost our image”.

Obidike who is also Managing Director of Discovery Travel & Tours Limited disclosed that Nigeria has good and rich tourism destinations that are far better than what he has seen in many parts of the world.

She specifically cited India and Kenya as two countries that do not have huge tourism sites like Nigeria. She lamented that lack of development and marketing of the sites have robbed the country of huge foreign exchange.
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