Tourism bill: Saraki urges Nigerians to exploit nation’s diversity to promote unity
NAN-H-62
Tourism
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, Aug. 17, 2017 (NAN) The Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Thursday in Abuja called on Nigerians to exploit the nation’s multicultural background to promote its unity.
Saraki gave the advice while declaring open the Public Hearing on “Nigerian Tourism Development (NTDC) Corporation Act Cap N137 LFN, 2004 (Repeal and Reenactment) Bill 2017 (SB 429)’’.
The senate president said that the need to develop Nigeria’s tourism sector did not only lie with increasing its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but also promoting its unity with its different multicultural background.
“At the high rate of our people’s individual accomplishment virtually in all fields of human endeavours such as in writing, engineering, sports, etc.
“These people have branded themselves and the country effectively, and the potentials of Nigeria as a tourism destination can be better if the attention these individuals have drawn is harnessed back home.
“This must, however, be with a framework for projecting our tourism amenities and facilities to the rest of the world,’’ Saraki said.
The senate president said that the bill was to reposition the country’s tourism industry to benefit its citizens economically with little cost on government.
He said that the bill was to encourage partnership with private investors who had interest in developing the nation’s tourism sector.
“The private sector unarguably is the driver of every country’s economy and in order to reduce the financial burden on the government.
“We will need the private sector to utilise the industry effectively to create employment, promote our cultural awareness while preserving our local cultures and tradition.
“The sector can stimulate trade, income and enter partnership, especially with Small, Medium-scale Enterprises and increase regional development.’’
The lawmaker said that even though the hospitality and tourism industry was underutilised, it contributed about 4.8 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP in 2016, while employing about 1.6 per cent of Nigerians.
He stressed, however, that these figures could grow significantly if the tourist attractions were fully developed and utilised.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the senate president was represented by the Deputy Senate Leader, Sen. Bala Na’Allah.
Speaking earlier, Sen. Matthew Urhoghide, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, said the role of tourism in enhancing economic growth and development could not be overemphasised.
Urhoghide said that tourism stimulated economic growth by generating income, employment, investments, exports, adding that it served as a catalyst for socio-economic development.
According to him, tourism has been included as a target in goals 8, 12 and 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals.
“The NTDC was established through an Act in 1992 to promote tourism in Nigeria, and encourage the provision and improvement of tourism amenities, including the development of hotels and ancillary facilities.
“The Act since its enactment has not gone through any form of review or amendment, despite having passed through several years of socio-political and economic changes.
“Also, the Act like most laws made under the military regime is characterised with so many inadequacies and short comings,’’ Urhoghide said.
He said that countries such as The Gambia; South Africa and Japan successful achievement on tourism were made possible by the act that established their tourism boards.
The lawmaker said that Nigeria could take a cue from those countries by adopting and domesticating the 2002 Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism.
“This will enhance best practices of responsible tourism principles and help to promote tourism opportunities abundant in the country.
“Nigeria can also take a cue from Japan by setting fundamental targets to be realised by the tourism body in the short-term and long-term.
“The only law existing in Nigeria prior to this bill is the NTDC Act of 1992, which this bill seeks to repeal and enact.
“Additionally, the subject matter of the bill is under the legislative purview of the National Assembly,’’ he said.
Urhoghide restated the commitment of the senate not to relent until all the agencies under its purview were backed by legal framework that could stand the test of the present-day challenges.
He appreciated the senate president and the entire leadership of the senate for their support and presence.
Urhoghide also appreciated the various agencies under the Ministry of Information and Culture and other stakeholders that graced the hearing.
In his vote of thanks, Sen Abubakar Ahmadi, the committee’s Vice-Chairman, said the senate was law making machinery, adding that it would do the needful to the bill.
Ahmadi appreciated the senate leadership for the effort made to ensure that the public hearing was a reality.
NAN reports that present at the event were Mr Folorunsho Coker, NTDC Director-General, staffs of the corporation, Alhaji Yusuf Usman, D-G, National Commission for Museums and Monuments and other stakeholders from both the private and public sectors were also present. (NAN)
CMY/COF/GY
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Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Grace Yussuf