In it vision to grow domestic tourism market and to position Nigeria as a leading business tourist destination in Africa, the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria [FTAN], has launched a TRIAC Mandate [Tourism Marketing, Research and Development, Insurance policy, Advocacy and Capacity Building] to strategically position the federation for a sustainable goal.
The National President of the federation, Nkereuwem Onung who disclosed this at the sideline of the 5th edition of the National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo held at the Abuja International Convention Centre said it is time to give meaning to tourism in terms of practical innovation and creativity that will re-engage and give stakeholders the pride of place in the tourism business and its allied sector.
According to Onung “the TRIAC Mandate with involve a strategic tourism marketing through the public and Private sector partnership for the identification the needs, wants and satisfaction of the segments market in the planning and designing of local, regional, national and international tourism products.
“Nigeria is a dynamic entity with diverse opportunities and market segments and to actually give the best to the consumers of our rich and robust potentialities there is serious needs for a comprehensive marketing model to basically meet the demands of the various target markets.
He also saw the R&D [Research and development)#] as a major factor in determining the pace and workability of the mandate, according to Onung “ R&D will help in measuring and assessing information for decision making, understanding the characteristics, preferences, attitudes and opinions of visitors and visitors.”
On making the industry safe for both the sellers and buyers tourism products and services irrespective of the demography of stakeholders and market segments, FTAN boss believed that Insurance is an unavoidable component of tourism advisory and plan as it is a way of providing travel safety and guarantees of compensation.
Also going by the turnout of the COVID-19 new normal and the dynamic nature of catching up with trend of global tourism in order to get appreciable relevance and PPP engagement, Onumg explained that sustaining a straight cut advocacy to put the federation on the right part, “FTAN with embark on lobbying government and other stakeholders in order to gain support or against policies and make recommendations.
We are also seriously looking into capacity building as a major yard stick in changing attitudes and behaviours through imparting knowledge and developing skills of persons in the industry.
“On this ground, we have had talk with different industry based stakeholders on collaborations on making the capacity building bid a worthwhile effort to position the federation.” Onung added.
By Lucky Onoriode George