By Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi
Kaduna, Northwestern – Nigeria expert in the hospitality and tourism sector, Tobi Bernard Thomas, has called on the Kaduna state government to ensure that the stakeholders are included in the composition of a tourism board if there is any or is about to be established.
Thomas said a tangible collaboration between the state and critical stakeholders like the FTAN and others will promote and market the state as a tourist destination.
While addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Friday, the expert noted that Kaduna State is blessed with abundant tourism centres, which are left untapped, hence the need to incorporate stakeholders in the process of developing and implementing strategies that will attract both domestic and international tourists.
Thomas opined that to boost the tourism sector in the state, the government should adopt a method that is capable of operating tour services within and outside the state through the establishment of KADA Airline, a state carrier.
He said, that the adoption of the aforementioned, would help to increase the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.
Thomas, who is the Kaduna State Coordinator of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), said, “I am available to serve in all capacities to ensure that Kaduna State becomes a centre of a global tourism destination site.
“It becomes imperative to consider reality and for the state to see how to generate revenue from non-oil products. If the sector were given proper consideration, it would no doubt foster economic growth and the development of other sectors.
“For the state to have a Unique Selling Proportion (USP) on any planned program in the state for tourism, hence the need for the inclusion of stakeholders,” he emphasised.
The expert also suggested that the state should have a body like the Kaduna Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) that would coordinate tourism activities in the state.
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