SUNRISE NEWS, Ogun, Oct 4, 2020 Experts and other stakeholders have called for the implementation of Standardization as well as active youth participation in the Tourism and Hospitality industry, so Nigeria would not be left behind in tapping the full potential of the sector.
Chief Executive Officer, Awori Tourism, Prince Femi Fadina and other stakeholders made the call at the 3rd Series of Tourism Youth Conference held on the Zoom App with the theme ” Standardization In The Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
Prince Fadina said that Tourism and Hospitality had become a major source of revenue in most countries of the world, noting that there were numerous potentials which could translate to economic prosperity in Nigeria.
In her presentation, the former DG, NIHOTOUR and Chairman, National Mirror Committee (NMC) on Tourism and Related Services, Cheif Mrs. Chika Balogun who commended the organisers of the event, Awori Tourism, noting that standardization was part of establishing tourism in order to actualize goals of tourism.
She explained that training was a core component of standardization as staff would learn the process and procedure of the standard relevant to their area of service delivery, emphasising that it should be a permanent fixture on the annual calendar and budget to allow for new learning, skill and technologies.
Mrs. Balogun who noted that Nigeria was not among the top ten African destinations in tourism, called on all stakeholders to joined the NMC and bring their expertises in their various fields to develop for local use, noting that standardization should be enforced nationally.
Also speaking, the Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. (Dr) Oluwatoyin Emmanuel Taiwo, said that there was an urgent need for organised youth Tourism in order to sustain the development of the Industry, emphasising that there were potentials yet to harness.
Hon. Taiwo who encouraged youths to look inward to leverage on the many employment opportunities available in the sector submitted that innovation and inventions were needed to develop the industry, enjoining youths to join hands with the government in their states in executing various policies in the sector.
On his part, the Senior Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre said that standardization was not a State Affair, opining that there should be a national body saddled with the regulation of standards in the hospitality industry.
In their separate goodwill messages, Mr. Munzal Dantata and Miss Ola Wright both said tha the event was part of efforts aimed at improving the tourism and hospitality industry, noting that it was high time Nigeria join the rest of the world at having best practices in order to deliver on its potentials as a viable source of revenue.