NAN-H-53
Tourism
By Martha Agas
Jos, Sept. 28, 2017 (NAN) The Association of Tourism Practitioners in Nigeria (ATPN) has called for the establishment of tourism cooperative society by practitioners to help grow their businesses for the development of the sector.
Mr John-Likita Best, the Chairman of ATPN in Plateau made the call at a symposium it organised for stakeholders in the tourism value chain in Plateau on Thursday in Jos.
Best said that the cooperative society would assist tourism practitioners to invest in the sector, especially with the meagre investment funds coming from the government.
“Where there is shortage of resources for tourist practitioners to manage an outlet or set up a new one, the cooperative will assist its members to do that,’’ he said.
He encouraged the Plateau indigenes to also invest in the sector, adding that in spite of the fact that the State was a hub for tourism, few people engaged in tourism-related business.
Best said that the tourism sector could thrive only when it was driven by private sector practitioners rather than solely depending on government.
He called on NGOs in tourism sector to access fund from international donor organisations for training on policy guidelines, technical and managerial expertise in the sector.
Mr Peter Mwankon, the Plateau Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Hospitality said that the overdependence on the oil sector had affected the development of the tourism sector.
He however said that the state government was committed to diversifying the economy.
“The diversification will help develop the skills of artisans, create employment for the teeming unemployed youths and attract investors to the State, “ he said.
He said that the State was leasing moribund hotels to private sector operators to revamp and manage it, adding it was also working toward addressing the burden of multi-taxing on hoteliers.
NAN reports that participants at the meeting called for upgrading of hotels in the State for easy identification and selection as well as the establishment of data bank on tourism information.
They also stressed the need to promote domestic tourism for Plateau residents to be encouraged to visit tourist sites in their localities. (NAN)
MAA/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf