NAN-H-31
Tourism
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) As the world marks the World Tourism Day on Tuesday, the Managing Director of Mercy Travel and Tours, Ibadan, Mr Babatunde Ademolu, has urged the Federal Government to always organise international cultural exhibitions.
Ademolu, who gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, said this would boost the nation’s tourism sector.
He said the government should develop the tourist sites in the country to attract foreigners in order to boost the economy.
“The federal and state governments should reconstruct the settings of our airports, especially the local ones.
“The Federal Government and well meaning Nigerians should also sponsor the less privileged on tourism training programmes to create jobs and make them self employed,” he said.
Ademolu also advised youths to explore opportunities in the tourism sector rather than depending on white collar jobs.
“It is easy to make it as far as the person is eager to work; those interested can enrol in any of our IT group training and after the training, a certificate will be issued.
“We have opportunities for hotel attendants, ticketing officers, all for those who have undergone the training.
“The person can work in any tour agency and they are being paid well,” he said.
Also speaking, the Curator, National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, Mr Amos Olorunnipa, urged Nigerians to refrain from destroying heritage sites in the country.
“The only Brazilian monument building, Ilojo Bar in Lagos, has just been demolished.
“It is appalling; the culprits should be handed over to the police and be jailed,” he said.
Olorunnipa said tourism, if well developed, could create huge foreign exchange earnings for the country.
“If most museums, tourist sites are developed, it would attract more tourists thereby creating opportunities for them to invest in Nigeria,’’ he said.
According to him, the museum is the custodian of tangible and intangible heritage property.
“Museum entertains, educates and provides materials for research; it also gives information about the past on tangible and intangible evidence of history and creativity for the future.
“It showcases the people’s way of life, highlighting the similarities in the cultures of ethnic groups as opposed to their differences.
“This aids unity, peace and progress of a nation,” he said.
NAN reports that the World Tourism Day is marked all over the world on Sept. 27.
This year’s edition has as theme: “ Tourism for All: Promoting Universal Accessibility.’’ (NAN)
CC/OJO
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(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)