The
Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), in collaboration
with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCTA), has concluded
arrangements to organise Nigeria’s first tourism investment forum.
The event slated for May 21-22, 2013 will hold at the prestigious Ladi Kwali Hall of Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers.
According
to Samuel Alabi, president, FTAN, the main objective of the programme
is to enable stakeholders to discuss and address the issue of funding as
a vital element to the development and maintenance of tourism products
and destinations that can induce creation of new tourism frontiers.
Other
reasons advanced by Alabi which necessitated the forum are: to showcase
the potentials of the tourism sector to the economic development of
Nigeria; to organise as well as promote local tourism products and
destinations to Nigerians before taking same to the international
market; to strengthen relationship between the tourism investors and
their services/products providers.
The
two-day event will feature a seminar and exhibition and is expected to
proffer a new direction for the tourism industry, most critically the
much-talked about “Tourism Intervention Fund” which is yet to see the
light of day.
Participants are expected from federal agencies, states, airlines, hotels,
travel agents, tour operators, among others. FTAN president assured
that necessary contacts are still being made within and outside the
sector to ensure that the issue of intervention fund is given the
deserved attention. He said the earlier information made available by
the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation that
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved a fund, but without
government seed money as is done for many other sectors, will be
counter-productive.
Article accredited to: Business day
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