Tourism
By Vezi Isike
Lagos, June 25, 2018 (NAN) Tolu Adesanmi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), DubaiAfrika, on Monday called for more participation by private investors in the tourism sector to complement government’s efforts in its economic diversification.
Adesanmi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, that private investment in tourism would facilitate the efficiency of the sector.
According to him, focusing on the tourism sector is highly beneficial to the economy, since it has huge potential of attracting steady foreign exchange to the country.
“Tourism in Nigeria is beginning to gain grounds since government’s decision to diversify from oil had beamed its light in the sector.
However, we can’t and should not, expect the pace of growth in the sector to blossom overnight if we depend solely on government’s investment.
“A huge number of people trace their origin back here, claiming their parents were slaves who were traded off to different parts of the world from here. So investment on tourism in Africa is very viable,” he said.
He said that the synergy of efforts by stakeholders would go a long way in enhancing the proficiency of the sector.
“The African culture is globally sort after because we have a rich history and that sells and attracts a lot of attentions to our tourist sites and locations.
“Major stakeholders have to pull efforts together to fortify and make our cultural heritage very presentable.
“This can be in terms of music, dance and in dressing, among others to attract more tourist to the country, “he said.
He added that concerned authorities should effectively manage national monuments being a major source of tourist attraction.
“There are several tourism sites owned by governments across the country that have been abandoned.
“Inclusive of these sites are zoos, theatres, cinemas and others that are depleting due to poor management.
“These and other areas such as wildlife and Eco-tourism, are a few areas that private investors can enhance, since a lot more still needed to be done”, he said. (NAN)
VOI/BOLA/PAD
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Peter Dada