The Former Executive Governor of Cross River State Senator Liyel Imoke will be the Guest speaker at 2017 Annual General Meeting of the Leading Tourism Organization in Nigeria, Nigerian Association of Tour Operators [NATOP].
NATOP is the umbrella body for Tour Operators in Nigeria. It is a specialised organisation made up of the leading Travel specialists in Nigeria.
The Theme for the 2017 edition which will hold on the 2nd of May at Renaissance Hotel Ikeja is “Positioning Tourism within the Nigerian Economic Space”.
Last year at its AGM held in Calabar with the Theme “Tourism the Low hanging Fruit in a Depressed Economy” with Professor Pat Utomi as Guest Speaker it released a 10 point agenda for Tourism in Nigeria which has become the talking point in Nigeria since then.
Everyone is talking about low hanging fruit, Presidential Council of Tourism and Review of Tourism Masterplan issues that were raised in Calabar. NATOP also called for the creation of a standalone Tourism ministry which is yet to receive attention from The Government.
NATOP was the only Tourism association to host a World Tourism Day event last year on September 27th. At the Event it charged that the Government seems to lack the Political will to push Tourism to its height. This drew an instant Response from the Minister of Information And Culture who responded that the Government has the necessary will to move Tourism forward.
For the second time NATOP hosted visiting South Africa tour Operators on a road show to Nigeria to a city Tour of Lagos which saw them doing a “Know FELA the Legend Tour” with Visits to sites associated with the Famous Black President and Music Maestro Fela Anikulakpo Kuti.
Senator Liyel Imoke will be speaking on “The Building Blocks of Tourism Products” He will be sharing his experience as a 2 term Governor of the Leading Tourism state in Nigeria.
Young and Aspiring Tour Operators will be involved in A workshop themed “Challenges Facing the promotion of Tourism by the Youth” NATOP has observed that a lot of young Tour Operators are promoting Domestic Tours all over the Country and need to be encouraged.
According to the President of NATOP Nkereuwem Onung the CEO of REMLORDS Tours ” These young ones are the future of Tourism in Nigeria and we need to support and harness them for the sake of the Nation”.
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