N500m Seed Fund Would Restart Tourism In Nigeria – NANTA
The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agency (NANTA) has said that the N500 million Tourism Seed Fund by Mr. Umon Bassey-Eno would help to restart the sector in the country after the setback caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, NANTA President in a statement to journalists on Monday lauded Eno for the fund, saying that it is geared towards breathing life to hospitality, tourism and cultural entrepreneurship in Akwa Ibom State.
She described the fund as the most ambitious dedicated effort ever undertaken by any individual or political party in Nigeria in recent times.
Akporiaye, who also doubles as Second Deputy President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), commended the intent and practical tourism policy of Eno, who is the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, stressing such indicative agenda was desirable to truly restart tourism after the pandemic, which crippled the industry and the players.
She said: “I am excited and happy about this very thoughtful effort by Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, and I must say it is a very daring lubricant needed at this point in time in the industry buffeted by the pandemic. I do sincerely hope, he will get the right people to drive and manage the fund, deploying it to verified industry players and not for mere political grandstanding.”
Eno, in what is seen as most audacious insight into PDP tourism blueprint in Akwa Ibom in the coming election and arguably in the entire Nigeria political advocacy space for tourism revival, last week, at the first Akwa Ibom State Tourism Roundtable 2022, disclosed that he intended to enthrone a Tourism Entrepreneurship Fund to help galvanise aggressive rebound of the state’s rich cultural tourism values and endorsements with intent to pedestal the state as a tourist economic destination.
The Roundtable with the theme: ‘Akwa Ibom State: Succeeding in the Lead of Limitless Possibilities,’ also provided a platform for Dr. Eyo Ekong of Allied People Movement to share his party’s cultural tourism policy if elected into office in the state come 2023.
The NANTA President, who is the first female industry private sector leader at the national level from Akwa Ibom State, informed that the drumming and vibes of tourism from Akwa Ibom, was what is expected to drive economic issues based campaigns of Nigeria political parties across all divides and sentiments in Nigeria, since oil economy had failed the nation.
She reiterated that funding the Nigerian cultural tourism experience, would provide jobs, and develop rural communities and also unify the people of Nigeria.
She said: “We at NANTA are waiting to see which of our political leaders and their parties, will come up with a practical blueprint to truly revive our cultural tourism and hospitality opportunities. We shall vote on the lines of true practical efforts in this regard, particularly for parties that will elevate tourism structures and institutions as frontiers of state or national instruments of integration and economic development.
“NANTA shall mobilise its members across the nation to partner such focal and practicable tourism agenda for the good of our people and nation.”
