Following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the tourism sector in the country, National President, Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), Hajia Bilkisu Abdul says practitioners in the industry needs urgent government intervention to cushion the effects of the disease on their business.
Hajia Bilikus made the appeal during a courtesy call to the Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, Mr. Folorunso Coker, in Abuja to discuss the way forward for sector and tour operators in the country.
She emphasized the present predicament of her members in the face of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic noting that most of her members have not been able to recover from the effect of the pandemic since its emergence in March 2020.
Her main concern, according to her, is that the government is not paying any attention to proffer solution to the situation. She noted that other sectors of the economy have started benefitting from various stimulus packages.
She, therefore, call on the DG of NTDC, being the agency saddled with the responsibility of developing the tourism industry, to find a way of assisting tour operators through the stimulation of tourism activities across the country. When this is done, she said tour operators can easily package tours to sell such destinations and events.
Responding to her request, the DG appreciated the NATOP National President for finding time to visit him. He equally assured her that the door is always open for both her and her members.
On the issues presented, the DG said that NTDC is working round the clock to ensure that the tourism sector does not collapse in the face of the pandemic. He iterated that very soon all the efforts and moves of the Corporation will be felt by stakeholders.
Part of NTDC strategies was to sensitize the states on the need to develop the tourism potentials in their domain. He said that NTDC is already partnering with over 20 States of the Federation and other corporate bodies and agencies to ensure that the industry is developed. More to their strategies, NTDC had already prepared various video clips promoting the various States and the opportunities available in the States. All these, he said, are available and can be accessed on all their social media handle.
In the spirit of Public-Private Partnership, PPP, and NATOP, being the association that will sell such destination, he promised to work with NATOP to ensure that Nigeria tourism takes its rightful position among other sectors of the economy.
