Nigeria Association of Tour Operators, NATOP, has honoured the Director Generals of the National Council for Art and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, the Director General of the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR, Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa and the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, NTDA, Chief Folorunsho Coker with distinct tourism awards.
Kangiwa was honoured with tourism, hospitality award of excellence for his role in redefining excellence in tourism and hospitality training in Nigeria.
Runsewe on his part was honoured with Tourism pioneer award for promoting culture and tourism on Nigeria.
While Coker was honoured with outstanding tourism personality of the year.
Kangiwa while receiving his award and that of Runsewe who was unavoidably absent promised to continue to do their best to move the industry forward.
Kangiwa lauded the pivotal roles by NATOP in the evolution of Nigeria as an emerging domestic and inbound Africa tourism destination.
Kangiwa stated that the theme of this 2023 NATOP Annual General Meeting, which is: “Tourism and Green Investment in Nigeria”, validates NATOP’s foresightedness in championing the development of tourism business in Nigeria.
He observed that it is understandable that NATOP’s 2023 AGM theme is in-line with the UNWTO World Tourism Day 2023 theme, to be hosted by Saudi Arabia, from 26th to 28th September with the theme: “Tourism and Green Investments, Investing in People, Planet and Prosperity”.
According to him, the UNWTO, in choosing this year’s theme, clarified that “the UNWTO has identified investments as one of the key priorities for tourism’s recovery and future growth and development.
He said for World Tourism Day 2023, UNWTO highlights the need for more and better-targeted investments for people, for planet and for prosperity. Now is the time for new and innovative solutions, not just traditional investments that promote and underpin economic growth and productivity.”
The DG explained that as the Director General of NIHOTOUR, the leaderships of both NATOP and the UNWTO couldn’t have chosen a more pragmatic and germanane theme relevant for Nigerian tourism and the global tourism industry.
He added that in essence, the tourism industry, both in principle and practice is pro-people, and easily leads to inclusive economic growth for practitioners and host communities, if investments are strategically thought-through.
Kangiwa pointed out that NIHOTOUR, by the recently assented Act of Parliament, is established to not only Train, but additionally, the Institute is mandated to Certify and Register all personnel in Nigeria’s hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors.
He seek the cooperation and partnership of tour operators to rid the industry of quackery and to, overtime, improve the quality of tourist services which is the cornerstone of Tour Operations in Nigeria.
“As the Director General of NIHOTOUR, I pledge to you that my doors are always open to support NATOP members’ Continuous Professional Development, for the eventual entrenchment of hospitality and tourism global best practices in Nigeria”, Kangiwa explained.
Speaking also, the Director General of NTDA, Folorunsho Coker acknowledged the professional and focused leadership provided by Mrs Ime Udo of NATOP.
Coker who was represented by Rev. Ebenezer Adesoke, a director at the agency said on their part, NTDA will continue their support through the provision of cutting edge technology, machine learning and use of artificial intelligence to help bolster Small and Medium Scale Enterprises which majority of NATOP members represent.
He said NTDA has partnered with Google on Google Street view project, a tool that will be indispensable for the tour operators.
According to Coker, the Hackathon project is on stream where useful softwares are being put together by tech savvy professionals for the use of the industry like in the banking industry, as so many other technological innovations are on stream by the Authority to launch when the atmosphere is right.
While observing that the issue of quackery is a terrible menace in the tour project, Coker promised an enduring collaboration to end it.
Tour operation is a serious professional business that should be guarded and protected jealously, Coker said.
