Nasarawa rallies tour operators to tourism development

Nasarawa State government has expressed readiness to partner with tour operators as part of efforts to export State tourism sites to the world. The governor of the State, Abdullahi Sule, disclosed this recently during a visit of the National President of Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), Bilkisu Abdul, to the State government.

The governor had invited Abdul to Lafia to brief her on the plans of the State to host an annual cultural festival. Sule told Abdul that he was impressed with the news he had been reading about her work as NATOP President. He said NATOP was becoming a household name among many government agencies, as the new president had reached out more to major Nigerian organisations and State governments.

He urged the NATOP President to bring her members to enjoy the tourism resources of the State. He urged her to bring her Board of Trustees (BoT) members and executives to meet with the Commissioner of Tourism to arrange a tour of Nassarawa for NATOP members.

An elated Abdul thanked the governor for a wonderful reception accorded her and promised to come back with a bigger team of the best tourism experts in Nigeria.

“Engaging NATOP to help promote Nassarawa State will yield great result. We shall not disappoint you,” she assured.NATOP has been making waves recently with engagements with the National Park Services that recently hosted its monthly meeting at its Head office in Abuja. She was also hosted by the Chairman House Committee on Tourism Senator Rochas Okorocha at the National Assembly.