FG urged to tap into tourism sector’s potential

Some experts have asked the federal government to tap into the huge potential of the country’s tourism sector to boost its non-oil export revenue.

They stated this during a webinar organized by the Tourism and Hospitality Industries Thematic group of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA SL), which had the theme: “Regulatory governance framework for the Tourism and Hospitality sectors under the Nigerian constitution.”

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In his opening remarks, NESG Board member Udeme Ufot noted that the tourism and hospitality sector is worth over N1.3 trillion and that all stakeholders needed to examine and adopt best practices to optimize potential benefits. 

He reiterated the NESG’s commitment to collaboration, especially in light of the partnership with the NBA SBL to provide a platform for engagement to dissect the constitution and sectoral regulations related to the tourism and hospitality sector in Nigeria and the diaspora as a means of encouraging best practices.

The permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Dr Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, said that Nigeria is blessed with monuments, natural plains and various endowments that should make it an attractive destination for tourists, adding that the sector in 2013 contributed N757bn to Nigeria’s GDP.

In his goodwill message, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olumide Akpata, said the travel and tourism sector is significant and needs a proper regulatory framework.