‘Nigeria Safe, Ready For Tourism Investors’

The Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, has reassured potential tourism investors that the country is not only safe, but poised to receive their investments in the sub-sector with definite positive returns.

The NTDC boss was speaking at the 2011th edition of Akwaaba, an annual exhibition fair which was held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Otunba Runsewe during an interactive session with journalists noted that Nigeria remains a favourite tourism destination with the present collaboration between all stakeholders, especially as government has now realised the prospects of tourism as the largest employer of labour in the world.

“Akwaaba has united the travel trade industry within the sub region and we in Nigeria have started marketing our destinations and tourism products. I want to say there is a conscious re-awakening and the participation has increased.All we need to do is build on what we’ve started,” the Director General said.

Runsewe called on foreign investors to take advantage of the momentum NTDC is generating, observing that Nigerians are very rich in culture and have been able to key into the development of tourism, affirming that there are presently over 150 festivals in the country creating jobs, uniting Nigerians and creating better relationships.

He stated that tourism is the answer because it is sustainable, while oil is exhaustible.

Declaring the exhibition open, the NTDC helmsman thanked everyone for participating at this year’s event, noting that Akwaaba would always be a statement in Africa.

He tasked all to continue to celebrate Akwaaba because the event is expanding each year, describing this year’s event as “a huge success”

This year’s edition of the programme had in attendance travel practitioners and stakeholders from across Africa with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation featuring the best of Nigeria. Food tourism took centre stage on the second day of the exhibition with major Nigerian delicacies on display.

On Friday, NTDC displayed the very best of sports tourism by promoting sporting activities like table tennis, football, badminton, handball, volleyball, golf and many others more from several African countries like The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa all adding colour to the three-day event.

Earlier, Otunba Runsewe alongside the initiators of the Akwaaba concept, Mr. and Mrs. Ikechi Uko, and guests from several African countries took time to appreciate and present awards to some of the participants which include key practitioners, major hotels and travel agencies, major airliners, outstanding individuals and organisations, Cross River State which emerged tourism state of the year and many other prominent global brands.