The Chairman of Osun State Tourism Board and Tourism Authority Mr Abimbola Daniyan has commended the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies for renewing its commitment to positioning tourism through practical promotion and marketing of tourism sites domestically.
Daniyan who received a delegation Western Zone of NANTA in the state recently said the state is delighted to meet with reputable stakeholder with sincerity of purpose to take tourism to an enviable level.
“Osun State is blessed with lot of tourist sites which are also in the forefront delight of tourist. He said the state today is the safest for tourist from all over the world and has had tremendous inflow of visitors within and outside the country, with credit to the keen interest and investment of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State.
“We have in Osun tourists attraction that are breathtaking like the Olumirin waterfall in Erin Ijesa, Osun Sacred groove in Osogbo, Oranmiyan Staff, Ife Museum in Ile Ife among others.
“Our culture of keeping statistics and data annually has help us to frequently assess out sites and visitors comment which has helped in improving the sites regularly.
He pleaded with the association as a major player in tourism sector to ensure that they promote and market the different sites in the state to domestic and foreign tourists. He said he believes the visit with enhance a mutual and progressive result from both parties.
In his response, the Vice President of National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies, Western Zone, Mr Olatokunbo Dagunduro who led other executive members of the association to the state appreciated the effort of the Tourism Board in the state for doing a good job. He urged the board to do more for the sector by waking up to the reality that oil is exhausted, while tourism is sustainable and reliable.
The travel and tourism sector today is one of the largest employer of labour and low hanging fruit in terms of revenue generation globally.
He pleaded that the state governments need to create the enabling environment for stakeholders to thrive. He decried the deplorable state of road network across the country which is a serious challenge to timely access sites in the country.
Dagunduro also said it is high time that the Federal Government should looked into marrying the ministry of Aviation together with Tourism and Culture instead of marrying information, culture and Tourism together.
He further explained that Aviation cannot survive without tourism and vice-versa, calling the Federal Government to emulate the tourism policies of other Africa countries which have positively tourism potential to boost their economy through IGR from Travel and Tourism sector.
NAN
