Scott, Chief Executive Officer, Dascott Brand and Events,
who made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in
Lagos, said that the tourism industry must also be rebranded.
He said it was high time the federal government and
Nigerians in general gaind bountifully from the tourism industry because of its
numerous potential.
According to him, to fully maximise the potential in the
sector for improved revenue generation, the environment must be conducive, interesting and attractive to
intending tourists.
Scott said: “My general perception of the tourism sector in
Nigeria and the way it is being presently operated can simply be explained as
taking the bull by the horns, which would not yield the best result.
“To achieve the maximum result in tourism, the federal
government has to be fully involved and ready to make transformation in the
sector, letting the world know that Nigeria is ready to welcome visitors.
“We must start from our national carrier. Nigeria needs a
national carrier that has to be branded to reflect the image of the people of
Nigeria positively, how hospitable we are.
“Managing the security of the country effectively in order
to give the potential visitors, investors and tourists the confidence and peace
of mind in choosing Nigeria as country to visit is also germane.
“There should also be constant enlightenment to the locals
on the opportunities and benefits of tourism in their communities, especially
to the young ones.
“Also, campaign to the local artisans and their involvement
in the sector is also important.”
Scott urged the federal government to create the needed
enabling environment to attract both local and foreign investors as it had
become obvious that “the private investors were still sitting on the fence.”
He said the sector was capable of generating huge revenue
for the nation as it was reported that In 2019,
tourism contributed 1.5 billion US dollars to the Nigerian economy.
He noted that this was estimated to be 0.3 per cent of the
total Gross Domestic Product , but in 2020, the revenue dropped significantly
due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to him, in a post pandemic era, the nation could
generate more if things were done rightly.
“The federal government needs to do more to boost the
tourism sector, improving our infrastructure, security, educating the locals,
positive image of Nigeria as a first choice to tourists,” he said. (NAN)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment