Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, has called for a stay of action on the enforcement of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, (NIHOTOUR) Act.
The minister gave the order during a courtesy visit by the new executive members of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, (FTAN) led by Aliyu Badaki, its president, to her office recently.
The suspension order followed the request of the FTAN president to the minister to intervene in the matter. But Musawa noted that the order does not mean that there would not be reforms in the industry again, rather to give time for adjustments on areas of overlap and conflicts.
She promised to talk with the relevant agencies to ensure that there are no more harassments in the enforcement process, while the grey areas are being sorted out, especially by going back to the National Assembly.
She also disclosed that some exciting initiatives would be launching soon in the tourism industry, which she noted, would excite FTAN.
The minister congratulated the FTAN president and his team on their victory at the election, while promising to carry the private sector tourism body along by working directly with them in promoting tourism in the country.
On the request of FTAN president for the resuscitation of the Presidential Council on Tourism, the minister explained that it is broad-based and has partners in different sectors, hence the ministry is working to lessen the council and co-opting other needed parties and MDA’s to make it work faster.
She assured of the ministry’s participation in FTAN’s tourism conference coming up in November in Abuja, while decrying poor funding, which the ministry is grappling with.
Speaking earlier, Badaki called for a closer working relationship between the ministry and the federation, while soliciting for funding support from the ministry to make FTAN stronger.
He called for Nigeria’s participation in international exhibitions like the World Travel Market, in London, ITB Berlin, FITUR in Spain and the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.
Speaking also, Munzali Dantata, chairman, Board of Trustees, FTAN, pledged his support and counsel to the ministry, if needed to move the tourism industry forward.
He also reiterated the call for the resuscitation of the Presidential Council on Tourism, which worked well during Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime.
On her part, Susan Akporaye, first deputy president, FTAN, urged the ministry to carry the federation along in participation at international expos to help in marketing the country’s tourism potential and in its intervention programmes for SMEs.
She informed the minister that the private sector has been holding forth for the country after her long absence at international expos and handed over the flag of participation to the ministry through the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA).
