Chief Tomi Akingbogun, the President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) said the much awaited Tourism Stakeholders Summit would hold in April.
Akingbogun said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
NAN reports that Lai Mohammed Minister of Information and Culture, had on Feb. 18, inauguration of the committee to organise the summit.
He said that the purpose of the summit was to sensitise states to the abundant culture and tourism potential they have and how they could effectively tap them to enhance their internally generated revenue.
The minister said that the ministry would partner with states with tourism potential to organise to summit.
The states are Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Taraba, Kebbi and the FCT.
Akingbogun told NAN that the summit would avail the country the opportunity to chat a new course and way forward for the positive diversification of the economy from oil to tourism based.
``We all know that the international oil price has plummeted and we can see how it is negatively affecting the country’s economy.
``Tourism had the potential to generate huge revenue compared to oil; countries like Dubai, Kenya and others whose economy is not controlled by oil have achieved more than Nigeria.
``Tourism is the major driver of their economies and they have gone far in the area of human and capital developments.
`` The summit will hold from 27 to 29 of April this year; all tourism stakeholders across the country are expected to participate,’’ he said.
FTAN president said that past administrations in the country had been paying lip services to the development of tourism, adding that the present administration was determined to move the tourism sector forward.
``I believe that the forum unlike the previous ones would bring about positive strategies to better the tourism sector and generate revenue for the country.
``We as a country can make it work; we must be positive in achieving the diversification of the country’s economy,’’ he said.
The summit will hold in Calabar, Cross River State
Akingbogun said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
NAN reports that Lai Mohammed Minister of Information and Culture, had on Feb. 18, inauguration of the committee to organise the summit.
He said that the purpose of the summit was to sensitise states to the abundant culture and tourism potential they have and how they could effectively tap them to enhance their internally generated revenue.
The minister said that the ministry would partner with states with tourism potential to organise to summit.
The states are Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Taraba, Kebbi and the FCT.
Akingbogun told NAN that the summit would avail the country the opportunity to chat a new course and way forward for the positive diversification of the economy from oil to tourism based.
``We all know that the international oil price has plummeted and we can see how it is negatively affecting the country’s economy.
``Tourism had the potential to generate huge revenue compared to oil; countries like Dubai, Kenya and others whose economy is not controlled by oil have achieved more than Nigeria.
``Tourism is the major driver of their economies and they have gone far in the area of human and capital developments.
`` The summit will hold from 27 to 29 of April this year; all tourism stakeholders across the country are expected to participate,’’ he said.
FTAN president said that past administrations in the country had been paying lip services to the development of tourism, adding that the present administration was determined to move the tourism sector forward.
``I believe that the forum unlike the previous ones would bring about positive strategies to better the tourism sector and generate revenue for the country.
``We as a country can make it work; we must be positive in achieving the diversification of the country’s economy,’’ he said.
The summit will hold in Calabar, Cross River State
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