From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
A critical stakeholder in the tourism and hospitality industry, Dr Tobi Bernard Thomas, has lauded the Kaduna state government in its move to increase the Internally Generated Revenue of the state.
He said that the debt burden inherited by the Uba Sani administration threatened payment of salary in the state, hence the need for the government to look inward and increase the state’s IGR.
Dr Thomas asserted this on Sunday in Kaduna while addressing journalists on the importance of tourism to the nation’s economy, where he urged the state government to prioritise tourism as an alternative means of revenue generation.
The expert opined that the Kaduna government should invest in the sector, adding that “tourism investment is the process of capital investment of material and human in the tourism sector, intending to increase income or revenues for the country by increasing tourism activity in it by building hotels, resorts, and tourist cities, supporting small tourism projects and developing infrastructure.
“Thus, Kaduna government should view investing in its tourism industry as a means to stimulate growth over the long term and enabling the poor to share in economic gains.”
Dr Thomas who is the Kaduna State Coordinator of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) while highlighting the importance of tourism, said: “Beyond the revenue generation, tourism industry preserves and celebrates our natural and built heritage. awareness of the needs and wants of the visitors assists the citizens to develop pride of place, person and occupation. Tourism is a barometer of the economy.”
Speaking about the need for partnerships on how to boost tourism in the state, the expert disclosed that Partnership supports relationships to build operational efficiencies among the various players involved in the tourism business, the success depends on stakeholders on both the demand side and supply side must collaborate and benefit.
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