From: Segun Babatunde in Bauchi (31/03/2021)
The University of Abuja is partnering with the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR to establish Departments of Travel-Tourism and Hospitality under the Faculty of Management Sciences of the university.
The Vice Chancellor of the University (UNIABUJA),Prof Abdul Rashid Na Allah who made the disclosure at a One-day Seminar on ‘Tourism and Hospitality Legislations for Improved Revenue Generation and Development: Lessons from China’ organized by the trio of National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), UNIABUJA and the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, said the Hospitality Travel Tourism industry of the country desire skilled and high-level manpower that can deliver quality services of international standards.
In a Press release issued by Ahmed Mohammed Sule,Director, Media and Public Relations, NIHOTOUR which was made available to Journalists yesterday in Bauchi, Prof. Na Allah who spoke through Associate Prof. Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, Director Institute for Legislative Studies of the University, noted further that training and impactful vocational skills are what the tourism industry of the country desires to be able to explore and tap into the country’s vast tourism potentials for the socio- economic benefits of Nigeria and its people.
Earlier in his address at the program, Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa, Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) observed with regrets that Hospitality and Tourism laws in the country are long overdue for review in line with global best practices.
Kangiwa who called for a general overhaul of hospitality and tourism laws in the country that will enable the industry operate as a huge revenue generating industry as well as improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria, said a robust tourism development policy for tourism enhancement is of utmost importance.
Also speaking at the occasion, Mr. Li Xuda, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy and Director of China Cultural Centre in Nigeria who said China was able to record great successes in the growth and development of its tourism industry because the needed infrastructural facilities and hospitality amenities were put in place, called on Nigeria to invest and make the provision of functional infrastructures at tourism sites a priority if the tourism industry of the country is to thrive and flourish.
He noted that Nigeria like China, is blessed with historical and vast tourism resources and potentials that if properly harnessed, can serve as a major revenue generation sector for the government as well as create job opportunities for the Nigerian populace, noting further that adequate legislation is of paramount significance for a healthy and successful operation of the tourism industry.
Experts drawn from both public and private sectors of the industry as well as the academia are expected to deliver papers dwelling on the urgent need for the country to overhaul it obsolete tourism and hospitality laws and proffer far reaching recommendations that will bring about better and operations in the nation’s hospitality and travel-tourism industry. END
