Travel Agencies Partner with Oyo State To Checkmate Erring Members

The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Oyo chapter, has partnered the Oyo Government towards eliminating unregistered and fraudulent travel operators in the state.

Speaking with newsmen on Monday in Ibadan, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, emphasised the need for collaboration with NANTA, for effective regulation.

Olatubosun said that tourism was vital to the state’s economic development thus there was the need to checkmate activities of all travel agencies operating in the state.

He noted that there had been a surge in the tourism sector under the present administration in the state.

The commissioner decried the high number of unregistered travel agencies in the state, which has led to non-compliance with industry standards and raising security concerns.

He said the state government through the ministry had resolved to partner NANTA for effective regulation of all travel and tour operators in the state.

He said NANTA in collaboration with the state government would soon commence sensitisation to all travel agencies across the state on the need to register.

He added that enforcements would follow whereby all erring operators would be sanctioned.

“The registration initiative is aimed to create a government database of travel operators, enabling proper monitoring, evaluation and compliance checks.

“It will also help the public verify legitimate operators and enhance security by providing law enforcements agencies with access to relevant industry data,” the commissioner said.

In his remarks, NANTA’s Deputy National Vice President, Dr Olatokunbo Dagunduro, expressed concern over the rising number of unregistered travel agencies in the state.

Dagunduro noted that fraudulent operators were taking over roles meant for licensed agents.

He said partnering with the state government would proffer solutions to the challenges facing genuine operators.

He called for collaborations between government and the association to enhance efforts towards ú we and checkmating activities of all travel agencies.