President of the Centre for Promotion of Peace, Tourism, Arts and Culture (CEPTAC), Chief Mike Amachree, has tasked Nigerians living abroad to promote tourists to the county so as to boost the economy of the country. He made this call at during a meeting between tourism stakeholders and Nigerians in the Diaspora at the Brooklyn Tourists Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Amachree also stressed the need for deliberate investment in the tourism industry so as to create the enabling environment for job creation. On this score, he commended the governor of Rivers State, Nyeson Wike, for establishing the Port Harcourt Leisure Park and road construction across the state even as he called for more attention on the rural areas.
Nigerians in Diaspora who came from London, New York, Toronto and Los Angeles promised to market Nigeria in their various stations in their countries of abode to enable them attract more tourists to Nigeria, thereby building industries, create employment and expanding business activities in the country.
The chairman of the occasion, Professor Kimse Okoko, a former president of Ijaw National Congress, lauded the efforts of Amachree in tourism business in Nigeria. Okoko stated that tourism in the country is confronted with many challenges and encouraged governments to see the sub-sector as option “A” in choosing area of diversifying the country’s economy as the total dependence on oil has a detrimental effect on the development of the country. He also solicited support from multi-national companies and public-spirited individuals to invest in tourism development as the government alone cannot develop tourism and make it a thrive business alone.
The Royal Father of the Day, King T.J.T Princewill, the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom, who was represented by Chief Inimi Atiegoba, said tourism has become the main economic tool for development by many countries of the world, adding that Nigeria cannot afford to shy away from it and ensued for collaborative efforts in curbing societal ills affecting the development of tourism in the country. Professor Henry Leopold- Bellgam and Dr. Stanley Okoroafor, both of the University of Port Harcourt and the Curator of the National Museum, Port Harcourt, Omolayo Fadamijo, in their papers called on the state government to latch on tourism and culture as a means of forging development and unity in the state, especially the council areas.
Those present at the occasion include Professor Emeritus E.J. Allagoa, prominent historian, Prof Atei Mark Okorobia, Mr. Jemi Alade, a foremost tour operator in Nigeria, Mr. Ikechi Uko, organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Mr. Shola UIlipeju, Mr. and Mrs. Mpaka Saya – Braide (U.S.A).
Source: newtelegraphonline.com
