The Ondo state Government has charged key stakeholders including the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), to assist it in harnessing enormous tourism potentials that will make the state a tourist destination of choice for enhanced social and economic activities across the state.
Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who gave the charge in Akure, also expressed his administration’s readiness to partner the stakeholders in the tourism sector to boost the state’s revenue generation through the sector.
Akeredolu stated this on Tuesday in his office in Akure, the state capital, while playing host to the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), Ondo state chapter, led by Mrs Rachael Akintide-Abisola who paid him a courtesy.
The Governor who explained that tourism development is very key to his administration, also said the state has enormous tourism potentials that if fully harnessed would make the state a tourist destination of choice boost social and economic activities in the state.
He said his administration would partner the association for timely development of tourism in the state, just as the Governor promised to provide the association office accommodation, as requested, to coordinate its activities in the state.
Earlier, the leader of the team, Mrs Rachael Akintide-Abisola, who confirmed that Ondo state is full of opportunities and tourism potentials, equally expressed their readiness to harness them with the help of the government.
She noted that the FTAN which was established in 1997 by the Federal Ministry of Tourism is fully ready to partner with government in its developmental Master Plans, adding that the association in its determination to make an impacts in the state, is desired to turn the state to a tourist centre and boost the state revenue generation.
Akintide-Abisola listed some of the objectives of the association to, among others, lias, interact and work in concert with the governments at all levels in order to guarantee the timely and effective development of tourism resources in Nigeria.
Other objectives include to provide a platform for self development, interchange of knowledge and experience; advance the art and science of tourism development; advance the art and science of tourism activities by aiding research and development, advocacy, education and information technology.
“We are also out to promote sustainable tourism in Nigeria with global best practices”, she added.
Other members of the team present during the courtesy visit included Mr. Olugbenga Sunday; Mrs Opeyemi Bademosi-Ekunpa; Mr Oloruntoba Solomon; Mrs Yewande Olowokere; Mr Alex Akinrimoyo and Mr Salawudeen Al-Hassan.
