NAN-H-58
Tourism
By Maureen Okon
Abuja, Oct. 20, 2017 (NAN) Dr Chila Ezeudeh, the President of Hotel Owners Forum, Abuja (HOFA) on Friday said tourism and hospitality industry could contribute greatly to revenue generation of the country through government intervention.
Ezeudeh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said that tourism and hospitality could excel with the assistance of soft loans from banks through government intervention to improve the sector.
He said that hotels were the number one contact for foreigners or tourists coming into any country before they could go to any tourist locations in the city or any part of country.
“Accessing loans from banks through good government policies will go a long way in revamping tourism in the country.
“In hotels business, constant renovation is required as the place is being used by tourists and guests, which will result to infrastructure decays.
“So, it will need intervention loan to renovate and put the place in perfect condition to meet international standard,’’ he said.
Ezeudeh however said that currently, securing loans from banks to build hotels that would be of international standard was difficult in the country.
The president added that when these hotels were put in place, it would create job opportunities for young Nigerians and the locals in the area.
According to him, the corporate social responsibility of HOFA is to give back to the society.
“We employ the indigenes to work for us, we empower them, and we pay them, thereby paying back to the society. In HOFA, you cannot separate hospitality and tourism.
“There are some low hanging fruits in tourism that have not stimulated tourist traffic in places like Jabi Lake, Abuja Children Zoo and many more.
“Am however happy to inform you that we are already partnering with Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), to key into this.
“We will go into these fruits and tap them, once we tap them, we will empower the indigenes, and we will make use of available resources in developing these tourist centres.
“We are working with NTDC to develop them, the important aspect is that the locals are employed, which reduces criminality in those areas,’’ he said. (NAN)
ETIM/KOLE/GY
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Grace Yussuf