NAN-H-12
Tourism
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) A member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has advised government to invest in tourism in its effort to diversify the economy.
Oyintiloye, who is the House Committee Chairman on Information and Strategy, gave the advice in an interview with the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Osogbo.
The lawmaker said it was important for government to invest in tourism as it grappled with putting the economy back on track.
According to him, the tourism sector is a money spinning industry and can be used to stablise Nigeria’s economy.
Oyintiloye, who said that the country was blessed with many tourist sites, said that such sites could help boost the economy if government paid serious attention them.
He argued that apart from the fact that tourism could boost the national economy, it could also provide jobs for people.
“In diversifying our economy, the government has to take tourism as a critical sector because it will boost internally generated revenue and create huge employment opportunities.
“One area I believe is very lucrative in terms of investment is tourism when adequately harnessed,’’ he asserted.
Oyintiloye said that although many countries were making fortunes from tourism, the sector still remained neglected.
According to him, the Osun-Osogbo Groove among other tourist sites in the country was more than enough to boost the economy.
“Nature has practically finished the work for investment in tourism if properly harnessed,’’ he said.
The lawmaker argued that the fall in the price of crude oil was a blessing in disguise for Nigeria because the development would help government to pay attention to other neglected sectors. (NAN)
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(Edited by Emmanuel Mogbede, controlled by Silas Nwoha)