‘Hinterland connectivity key to boosting tourism’

Hinterland connectivity would be put on the front burner during the 2020 edition of the International Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo schedule to hold from December 7 – 8, 2020 With the theme Repositioning Tourism and Transportation Connectivity and Mobility to Revitalize the Economy is coming on the hills of the dwindling fortunes of the global […]

Hinterland connectivity would be put on the front burner during the 2020 edition of the International Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo schedule to hold from December 7 – 8, 2020

With the theme Repositioning Tourism and Transportation Connectivity and Mobility to Revitalize the Economy is coming on the hills of the dwindling fortunes of the global economy due to the Covid-19 pandemic with Tourism and Transportation industries being the hardest hit.

Chief Abiodun Odusanwo FITPN, Chairman Inter-Ministerial organising committee, while addressing news men said the reason for this is not far fetched as the two industries survive on the movement of people.

Odusanwo explained that with restrictions placed on movement and subsequent lockdown, the fortunes of both industries (Transport and Tourism) became terribly affected.

He said, efforts are now being made, around the world, at reviving every affected sector so that normal economic activities can pick up and life resumes well for all.

He said the urgent and impeccable need to explore the inherent benefits of the Tourism industry in synergy with the transportation sector cannot be overstressed taking into cognizance job creation and employment opportunities offered by the two industries for both skilled and unskilled labour force as a socio-economic driver in the diversification of national economies for increased and improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and socio-economic transformation which is in line with the Next Level Agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“This year’s edition of the Summit and Expo is taking into consideration the interdependency of tourism activities viz-a-viz other lined MDAs and organizations for the overall success of the industry in particular and the national economy as a whole. This explains why even at the preparatory level of the Summit and Expo, membership of the Main Organizing Committee cuts across all segments of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies besides the Tourism and Transportation Ministries, such as Security Agencies, Infrastructure providers, Financial institutions, Agencies in charge of manpower development and capacity building, Regulatory arms of government, etc.

“As its flagship development programmes for the promotion of tourism in the country, the Institute has initiated and staged two editions of the Annual Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo since 2018 in partnership with the Federal Ministries of Transportation and Information and Culture as well as critical stakeholders in the Organized Private sector aimed at deepening the understanding of the inter-play and interface between Tourism and other critical sectors of the national economy.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria in her drive to reposition the economy has consistently been supportive of the organization and hosting of the Transportation Tourism Summit and Expo in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and other Government Ministries/Agencies and Non-Government Organizations together with the private stakeholders across the transportation modes, tourism and hospitality value chain for sustainable economic growth and development.

“This year’s edition of Repositioning Tourism and Transportation Connectivity and Mobility to Revitalize the Economy as a theme, has an international dimension with participation from the international community.