The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has announced that it would hold its 43rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) with a focus on developing strategic policies for the growth of travel and tourism industry.
The association said the AGM was coming at a time the downstream sub-sector of the aviation industry has lamented over weak policies of the government, making it impossible to protect the travel agencies.
Speaking during a press conference to announce the AGM in Lagos, the President of NANTA, Bankole Bernard said the event, which would hold on March 27, 2019 at Muson centre, Lagos would draw government’s attention to implementing policies that would sustain and grow the travel and tourism industry.
“We are hoping that the next level of President Muhammadu Buhari administration, we will have a road map for the travel and tourism industry. Ethiopia is sustained by their aviation sector. Why can’t Nigeria thrive and survive on aviation if the right policies are in place?
“Government needs to look at the downstream sector to ensure it implements policies that protect indigenous players, encourage professionalism and ensure the industry is rid of fraudulent practices,” Bankole added.
He said the keynote speaker for the event would be the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Muhtar Usman, while Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, would be Special Guests of Honour at the occasion.
Also speaking at the event, first vice president of NANTA, Susan Akporiaye said that in Nigeria, the tourism industry has taken a back stage and there is need for private sector to get close to the government so they can also influence policy implementation for the downstream sector.
“A lot of countries thrive on tourism and travel and Nigeria cannot be left behind. People need to know the potential inherent in the sector. If we don’t have the right policies, there is little we can do to realise this potential. This is why this AGM will address policies that can help us a as a nation realise these huge potential inherent in the downstream sector,”Akporiaye added.
THISDAY
