Tourism Minister companions tour operators to advertise Nigerian tourism websites for patronage

By Taiye Olayemi

Mrs Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism has promised to collaborate with the members of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), to advertise Nigeria’s tourism websites, landmarks and numerous cultural heritage.

Ade-John made the pledge when she obtained Mrs Bolaji Mustapha, National President of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), at her workplace in Abuja, on Friday.

She expressed pleasure at NATOP’s focal intention to go to your entire stretch of the nation’s huge panorama.

She stated it was spectacular for the affiliation to beneath research, bundle and promote the assorted tourism, hospitality, festivals and heritage choices related to the Nigerian folks to the world and to Nigerians particularly.

“We shall accomplice collectively and I do guarantee you of my ministry assist and encouragement.

“Going ahead, we will endeavour to ask and carry your affiliation alongside in no matter we’re going to do.

“We need you to furnish us with a list of your accredited members and when we are going to present the tourism policy, which we think we needed to review, we shall invite NATOP to look at it and further add value to the document,” she stated.

On fund assist for NATOP actions and facilitating efforts to showcase Nigeria on the upcoming World Travel Market( WTM), the minister stated that the ministry was working round tourism price range which at present can not assist drive the numerous pending tourism tasks of the ministry.

She stated this will influence on the ministry’s participation on the international tourism commerce occasion this yr in London.

She famous that on the subsequent budgetry launch in 2025, Nigeria will take big steps to showcase her tourism choices to the world.

“We are constrained financially for now and might’t do a lot however hopefully by subsequent yr price range, we must always have achieved our house work nicely.

“And I guarantee you that we’re going to do many tourism tasks collectively as a result of what you probably did in the course of the World Tourism Day in Lagos, was the way in which to go in selling Nigeria which may be very expensive to my coronary heart, she stated

The NATOP President, who visited the minister in firm of her deputy, Ms Geraldine Itoe, had earlier briefed the minister on the affiliation’s plans to deliberately market Nigeria’s wealthy tourism property.

She additionally spoke on their intention to take part on the World Travel Market.

She stated the affiliation could be engaged on reinventing the strategic socioeconomic significance of tourism financial system to job creation and empowerment of the folks.

According to her, this is able to be with concentrate on bettering Nigeria’s international rating as a vacation spot to go to in Africa.

“We are right here to guarantee you and the ministry of our partnership and collaboration to market Nigeria’s numerous choices reducing throughout cultural heritage, ecological tourism, hospitality, festivals, and style.

“We are excited by sharing our data regarding Nigerian tourism coverage and different business associated issues, which might assist reposition our tourism throughout the home and worldwide house

“We have began trying inwards, and in weeks or months to return, NATOP will embark on undertaking rediscover Nigeria.

“And with it, we will glavernise the states and local authorities and the Nigerian people to think Nigerian culture and tourism first. Nigeria tourism is important to us, and we want to have your ministry’s backing in this noble effort,” she stated.