Wale Ojo-Lanre, the Director General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, has emphasized the need for a good security system, to encourage tourism in the country.
Speaking on ‘Ajo Ro’ a Yoruba Chit chat program on Miliki FM, Lagos on Monday morning, Ojo-Lanre described security as an essential ingredient in the promotion of tourism. He thus admonished the government to do everything within it’s power to ensure a secured environment that will make the country rake in the expected financial gains accruable from tourism.
The DG who gave kudos to the Ekiti state governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji,.for investing in the tourism sector in the state, said his efforts resulted among other achievements, in the Ikogosi water spring witnessing an unprecedented over 32, 000 visitors within a very short time. He also praised the governor for the decision to privatize some areas of the sector, adding that the state has become the best for the decision.
The widely traveled DG also called for the formulation of a robust national tourism policy to adequately drive the sector for increased contribution to national economy.
According to Ojo-Lanre, as Nigeria seeks to diversify its economic mainstay from oil, its rich tourism potential is a veritable alternative, if properly harnessed.
He said the absence of workable legal framework in form of national tourism policy was a major drawback to the sector, and therefore urged the federal government to expedite action toward providing such a framework.
The DG said such a crucial document would serve as roadmap for stakeholders at all levels toward harnessing the vast potential of Nigeria’s tourism industry and align it with global standards and best practices.
“Nigeria must develop a solid tourism policy, and without a tourism policy, whatever we do will just be meeting in the dark.
“The first thing you have to do is have a tourism policy, and then you develop a workable, sustainable tourism development plan.
“This will bring all states on board, so, these are steps we must take to show that we are serious to develop our tourism.
“I know about Ekiti state, because our Governor is very passionate about tourism,” he said.
