Stakeholders Urged To Synergise to Develop Tourism

Stakeholders Urged To Synergise to Develop Tourism

Tuesday, October 24, 2017 5:38 pm


Olumo rocks

By Adejoke Adeleye/ Abeokuta

Stakeholders in the tourism sector in the country have been urged to synergise and exchange ideas that would lead to the development of the sector so as to boost the economy of the country.

The General Manager of a five-star hotel, Park Inn Hotel, Abeokuta, the Ogun State Mr. Kayode Aina who spoke yesterday, said the role of tourism in enhancing inclusive economic growth and development of advanced and emerging economies cannot be over emphasised hence the need for all to come together and develop the sector.

Aina who spoke at a press conference, lamented that Nigerians’ attitude to the tourism sector of the country had been the bane of development of the sector, insisting that this had not enabled tourism to generate enough income, employment, investments, exports and serve as a catalyst for socio-economic development to the country.

He said, his organisation, as one of the biggest players in the hotels and tourism industry in the country “is putting together a forum of stakeholders in the sector to network and exchange ideas that will develop the sector, especially in this time when the Nigerian government insists on shifting from a mono-economy”. His words, “Tourism has a great potential in supporting the national economy by a way of creating jobs and conserving foreign exchange.”

“We are putting together a forum of some Tour and Travel entreprenuers to network, exchange ideas and build synergies to tap the opportunities that exist in local tourism in Nigeria.”

“We do not have to travel to Dubai or other countries to see their tourist attraction sites. Nigeria has a lot of resources, especially in the tourism sector but unfortunately we do not relate with them. We can also promote our tourism sector by developing the various tourist attraction sites in the country.”

“Stakeholders, people of like minds should come together and promote these resources to build our own economy instead of visiting other countries tourist attraction sites and thereby contributing to the development of the economies of such countries.”

Aina also disclosed that his organisation, as part of its efforts in contributing to the development of the society is organising a debating competition for Secondary School students in the State.

The competition, according to him would feature 20 public and private Secondary School students in the first stage.

The debate will hold between Tuesday, November 2 to Wednesday, November 8 at the auditorium of the hotel.

Stressing the need for students to engage more in debating activities, he said, “Whether in board rooms, parliment, jurisprudence or informal social settings, debates have stood the test of time as a way to have engage in pro and cons discussions about various subject matter and in so doing, bring out and illuminate perspectives which may not be so obvious on the surface at first glance.”

According to Aina, the competition is aimed at developing the students academically and morally, saying “The debate is our own way of helping to develop tomorrow’s leaders with critical thinking and oratory skills to positively shape the world.”


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