The third edition of the National Tourism and Transportation Summit and Exposition will begin in Abuja, Nigeria on Monday.
The two-day summit will attract participants and speakers from Transportation and Tourism sectors that will discuss Post COVID-19 pandemic benefits to the two strategic sectors in Nigeria, Africa, and the world.
The President of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN) and Chairman organizing committee of the summit and Expo, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo said that Nigeria awaits the Tourism and Transportation Community, delegates, Exhibitors, Guests and visitors to the International Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo 2020.
Odusanwo said the 2020 edition of the Tourism and Transportation Summit and Expo with a theme: “Repositioning Tourism and Transportation Connectivity and Mobility to Revitalize the Economy,” is coming on the hills of the dwindling fortunes of the global economy due to the Covid-19 pandemic with Tourism and Transportation industries being the hardest hit.
He said the choice of the theme was very obvious based on the fact that the two strategic industries survive on the movement of people using different means for tourism around the world.
Odusanwo observed that with restrictions on movement and subsequent lockdown as a result of COVID-19 pandemic the fortunes of these industries have become significantly affected.
“All over the world all over, efforts are now being made to revive every affected sector so that normal economic activities can pick up and life resumes well around the world,” he stressed.
The Chairman of the summit acknowledged that; “The urgent need to explore the inherent benefits of the Tourism industry in synergy with the transportation sector cannot be overstressed.
“Taking into cognizance job creation and employment opportunities offered by the two industries for the skilled and non-skilled labour force as a socio-economic driver in the diversification of national economies for increased and improved Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) and socio-economic transformation in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration policies.”
The third Summit and Expo took into consideration the interdependency of tourism activities in relation to other lined MDAs and organizations for the overall success of the industry in particular and the national economy as a whole.
Chief Abiodun defended the choice of the topics for discussion at the summit on issues like the blue economy, maintaining resilient infrastructure, virtual business imperatives, enhancing travellers’ safety, transportation intermodal dependency in Africa and security and transportation interdependency among others as key areas of focus.
These he identified as, “Key to the connectivity brought about between nation and it’s peoples through road, rail, air and maritime transport at the heart of tourism development. These sectors provide substantial economic benefits for all those involved in the tourism value chain”
It was against this backdrop that the Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo is organized to bring together key players in the two industries in particular and other critical and linked MDAs and organization for a healthy dialogue and interface aimed at strengthening the links between these sectors and maximizing their impact on employment, inclusive growth and sustainable economic development in Nigeria”
“Their importance in promoting economic cooperation, trade and cultural exchange at the regional and international levels make them fundamental strategic for sustainable development of all nations”
“It is also believed that a functional Tourism and Transportation industries can contribute significantly to building economic links that bridge the gaps between developed and developing countries by enhancing cooperation, especially in infrastructure development, human capital, ICT and resource development promotion and marketing.”
The Chairman called on Tourism and Transportation stakeholders to ensure that these lofty goals are achieved on the basis of careful, strategic planning with the broad involvement and active participation of all stakeholders, in a way that not only increases revenues at the national and local levels; improves the quality of life and well-being of the population; expands business frontiers and opportunities; but also capitalizes on and tap from modern scientific and technological advances for the general good of the national economy.
The summit is expected to be declared open by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha with Ministers of Transportation, Aviation and Information and Culture delivering papers that offers a unique opportunity for policymakers, regulators, entrepreneurs, key players in the tourism and transport sectors of the economy, investors, customers and the general public to engage in an All-Participatory discourse aimed at chatting synergy, collaboration and connective inter-play between the two sectors for maximum economic benefits of the country.
Suzan O
