By Folarin Johnson
National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) has indicated plan to open corporate collaboration and synergy talks with the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism.
The Ekiti State Coordinator of the Association Mr. Yusuf Sikiru said this on Monday while paying a familiarization visit to the Department of Tourism and Hospitality.
The visit according to the Coordinator is to notify the Ministry of the planned official visit of the National Executive of the Association to the Honourable State Commissioner, Prof Rasaki Ojo Bakare. The familiarization visit would be focusing on how to foster collaboration between NANTAP and the Tourism sector of the State.
Mr Yusuf Sikiru explained that his Monday visit was to first and foremost identify with the Department of Tourism and give kudos to the Ministry for its notable efforts in promoting tourism through the department and also in promoting leisure activities through its various programmes particularly the Sunday/Sunday Variety Show.
He commended the efforts of the State Government in the construction of a Cargo Airport in the State. He described the airport as a bridge that will connect and open Ekiti State to the rest of the world.
The Ekiti State NANTA coordinator, while presenting copies of the Association’s magazine to the Director of Tourism and Hospitality Services, Prince Adebanji Adelusi assured him that NANTA would ensure all operators of tourism in Ekiti come together and register officially so as to be duly recognised. This, he said, would enable the public know the authorized operators from fraudsters.
While receiving the magazines from the State NANTA coordinator, Prince Adelusi applauded the Association for taking the right decision. He took time to highlight the various achievements of the Ministry. He said the Honorable Commissioner would be glad to meet the National Executive of the Association and also agree to collaborate to further develop and promote tourism activities in the State.
Adelusi further informed the coordinator that Ekiti State now has a legal framework guiding operation of tourism and hospitality in the State. The Law, according to him, was to ensure all stakeholders operate within the legally acceptable precepts.
Adelusi urged NANTA to notify the Ministry early about the planned visit of the National Executive members so that it can fit into the Ministry’s schedule. He promised to inform the Honorable Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary of the visit of the Coordinator and the proposed familiarization visit of the National leadership of the Association.
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Ekiti Tourism & Hospitality News 