President of National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mrs Susan Akporiaye has urged the federal government to always implore private sector’s assistance while planning for the celebration of the the important day.
Speaking on activities marking the WTD celebration, Akporiaye regretted that the private sector operators are not being carried along and really do not know what the plans of the government is and how far they have gone in their planning.
Although, Akporiaye concurred that federal government had involved the private sectors through the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) to be part of the committee but much need to be done.
“The governments are doing their own and we are doing our own and that is for the federal government. But it is not the same for all part of governments; state governments are doing their own celebration and they are involving our members, state government like Ogun state. And we are fully involved from the beginning to the end”.
“And they are planning big for world tourism day, and also some other states are also doing their own in their own ways and also have invited the private sector but for the federal government that is not the case and I cannot tell the level of preparation and how far they have gone because we are not exactly involved”.
Mrs Akporiaye also stated that NANTA has refused to be discouraged this time because most often than none, the federal government does not carry the private sector along with things like this.
“So we have chosen to do things in our own different ways, a lot of our members are coming up with events, there are old school event that period too, there are lectures, seminars, and there even event for children and for us we are very busy and there are going to be lot of events powered by travel and tourism association this year and it is going to be a good world tourism day celebration this year”, Akporiaye said.
Explaining further, on world tourism day preparation in Nigeria
Akporiaye hinted that, as the world is celebrating world tourism day, COVID-19 would definitely not allow stakeholders to do it the way they would have wanted it done all over the world.
Reacting on the choice of Kebbi as the destination in Nigeria to celebrate WTD, she said “I expected WTD should be celebrated in areas that are truly in their own little way doing this tourism we are talking about, assuming it is also a more free area where people can easily want to be part of it. I am not necessary saying Abuja. Ekiti is there, Calabar is thete, Uyo and even Kwara but they choose Kebbi and that part I really do not understand”
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