Tourism association calls for budgetary increase and investment

Nigeria is reminded to raise her investment and funding for the tourism sector budgetary allocation.

This statement was made by the President Federation of Tourism association of Nigeria, FTAN, Mr. Nkereuwem Onung in Lagos, at an event to commemorate the world tourism day which had as its theme “rethinking tourism”.

Mr Onung said it was time the Nigerian Government accord the tourism sector a stand alone ministry, rather than merging it with information, Arts and Culture.

“We like to say that the budget profile should increase. The capital budget should exceed the current one. We have in the past seven years run a budget where 80% of the budget on tourism in Nigeria is for expenditure and so we have no money left for capital input. We are asking the government that this profile needs to change”, Mr Onung said.

Speaking on why the association choose boat cruise and the beach to mark this year’s world tourism day,

The President Federation of Tourism association of Nigeria said in rethinking Tourism, the Association believes it was time to explore the rich tourism potentials and economic benefits in the Nigerian water ways.

“For us in FTAN, the boat cruise from Tarzan jetty in Victoria Island to Tarkwa bay beach is our way of domesticating this year’s theme to focus on Lagos waterways and showcase the beauty of exploring the stretch of abundant Lagos coastlines for tourism purposes”, Mr Onung pointed out.

Similarly, a tourism veteran in Nigeria and the Chairman, La Campaigne Tropicana Resort, Mr Wanle Akinboboye said it was high time the government added value to the tourism industry.

If Nigerian government could focus and invest in the creative and tourism industries, the country’s economy would be able to compete favourably with other western countries,”

“It is time we begin to think practical tourism operations, concerted efforts should be made to transform attractions to destinations of choice before we think of marketing them,” Akinboboye noted.

On the part of the, FTAN Board of Trustee Chairman, Chief Samuel Alabi the Nigerian government must be consciously committed to the development of the tourism industry by harmonising the numerous taxes that practitioners needed to attend to.

“FTAN is writing history today, which would be read by generations, and government needs to do a lot to boost tourism,” he stressed.

The ceremony to commemorate the world tourism day had stakeholders in the tourism industry experience boat cruise from Tarzan Jetty at Victoria-Island to Tarkwa Bay Beach, thereby showcasing the acquatic potentials in Lagos State waterways.

S.S