PRESS RELEASE
Following the recent opening of NTDC
Tourism Information desk in Kano and Calabar, the Nigerian Tourism Development
Corporation (NTDC) has added Enugu amongst the list of States where it has
tourism information desks.
Speaking at the opening of the NTDC’s Tourism
Information desk in Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu, the Director
General of NTDC, Mrs. Sally Uwechue Mbanefo said that tourism is the greatest
employer of labour which contributes about 9.3% to the global GDP with the
Gambia contributing 17.7%%, Egypt 13%, South Africa 9%, Mexico 11.9%, Kenya
12%, Brazil 7.8%, Cuba 6% and Nigeria 4%, stressing that tourism development remains
relevant and important in the economy building of any nation in the world.
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From left, Director-General, Nigerian
Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo; Group
Managing Director, Viko Nigeria Group of Companies, Mr. Lucky Kanu;
Chukwu Debelu (II) of Ibagwa Aka, HRH Igwe (Dr) H.I. Eze and the
Airport Manager of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Mr
Mgbemene Ojiako, during the commissioning of the NTDC Information
Desk at the airport, recently.
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In her speech, she explained that the
NTDC’s information desk is part of the Corporation’s effort towards promoting
domestic tourism. She recalled that the Corporation’s collaboration with Viko
Group of Companies Limited had earlier commissioned four information desks at
major airports in the country such as Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Calabar and now
Enugu. She also noted that Enugu State is one of the tourism friendly states
and a major tourism hub in Nigeria
“Enugu State is a place to visit and
a destination of choice for tourists of various inclinations, Enugu and Nsukka
towns present tourism infrastructure for cultural, eco-tourism, sporting,
business and conferences. The following facilities are prominent; The Nike lake
Resort, Enugu Polo Amusement Parks, Enugu Zoological Garden, Nsukka Zoological
Garden, Hotel Presidential, Ezeagu Tourist Complex, Dugudu Lakes and Ajali Owa
sandy Stream among others”. She said.
She asserts, “Nigeria has been solely
dependent on the oil sector for many years. Nigerians are not encouraged to
visit the various attractions from North to south, East to West to experience
what God Almighty has endowed Nigerians with and we want Nigerians to take
their life styles seriously, knowing that one’s health depends on leisure which
is part of Tourism which is one of the things that promotes longevity of life”,
“Tourism is sustainable and a necessity in economy building and not a luxury”,
she added.
Mrs. Mbanefo however called for
higher support from both private and government to promote domestic tourism
activities in Nigeria in order to move away from total dependence on oil and
create jobs for the teeming youth, allievate poverty and reduce urban migration.
Addressing the top government
officials, traditional rulers and the press men earlier, Mr. Lucky Kanu, CEO of
Viko Group of Companies said “This information desk features a travel
information portal for tourists with information on the aviation industry, ‘real
time’ flight information can be personalized with alarm sent to customers
phones as reminders of their scheduled flight time”
Mr. Kanu further said that the portal
is opened to provide information about attractions in Nigeria that are not
known to tourists. “We are promoting domestic tourism in the country in order
to increase revenue generation for the country, opening for job opportunities
for our teemin unemployed yout”, he said.
The Viko Group of Company Nigeria
Limited boss expressed his willingness and determination to collaborate with
the NTDC to create job opportunities and will work on the existing partnership
with NTDC to open more information desks in all major airports in Nigeria.
However, he said, “Passengers can browse for free and view tourists sites,
tourists activities, products, hotels, car hire services, events and festivals.
Also they can make enquiries and book excursion trips to schools and holiday
sightseeing within the country at no cost at all”.
The manager of the Akanu Ibiam International
airport, Enugu, Mr. Mgbemene Ijiako was impressed by the synergy between NTDC
and Viko Limited which has resulted to the establishment of the NTDC
Information desk in Enugu International Airport, Enugu State
He said, “On behalf of the federal republic of
Nigeria, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, I commission this Tourism
Information desk to the glory of God.” 
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