Stakeholders in the tourism industry will seek ways of charting developmental frontiers for the industry even as the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture & National Orientation in collaboration with e-Tourism Limited, conclude plans to hold a two-day National Tourism Workshop on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th June in Abuja .
The event, which will hold at the Nicon Luxury, has as its theme: ‘Critical issues and strategies for the implementation of the Nigerian Tourism Development (NTD) Master plan’ and sub-theme: ‘Mainstreaming ICT into The National Tourism Development Master plan’.
President, Umaru Musa Yarâ’Adua would be the special guest of honour while Senator David Mark, Senate President will chair the event. The workshop would seek views on implementing the tourism master plan through collaborative efforts between stakeholders, and fashion ways of projecting the country’s rich tourism and cultural heritage to the outside world.
It will also draw out a guide on the role of the tourism sector in achieving the laid-out Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
To be decorated as e-Tourism Project Champions include President Yarâ’Adua, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister, Minister of State and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation. Some state Governors and Chief Executives of partnering banks will also be honoured.
Highlights of the event include launch of tourism products among which are Tour Nigeria Magazine, Tourism Communication Card, Tourism Cash Card, National and State Tourism Portals and launch of Farinruwa Eco-Tourism Development Project.
Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, will deliver the welcome address and a paper on ‘Implementing the Tourism Development Master plan Through a Tourism Growth Strategy.’
The two-day event will also highlight the role of the three tiers of government in implementing the NTD master plan, financing tourism development through public/private partnership and the place of ICT in tourism development.
Technical sessions will be chaired by eminent personalities including Chukwuma Soludo, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Chief Goodie Ibru, chairman, Federal Palace Hotel, Earnest Ndukwe, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Senator Bako Gassol, chairman, Senate Committee on Tourism and Hon. Mercy Almona-Isei, chairman, House Committee on Tourism.
Presentations will be delivered by the executive Governor of Nasarawa State and other stakeholders in the Technology, Banking, Tourism and Hospitality industries including government and non-government bodies.
The National Tourism Workshop is expected to draw participation from the organized private sector, tourism operators, federal, state and local governments, banks and other financial institutions, foreign embassies and airlines, among others.