NIHOTOUR, law commission partner on tourism law

This came up when the Director General of NIHOTOUR, Dr. Munzali Dantata led a team on a courtesy visit to the Chairman, Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Justice Umaru Atu Kalgo in Abuja last Tuesday. Dantata said  “as an agency established to build capacity by training professionals for the industry, the Institute is concerned about the […]

This came up when the Director General of NIHOTOUR, Dr. Munzali Dantata led a team on a courtesy visit to the Chairman, Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Justice Umaru Atu Kalgo in Abuja last Tuesday.

Dantata said  “as an agency established to build capacity by training professionals for the industry, the Institute is concerned about the inadequacy of existing legislations to drive the industry.  This has thrown up a number of constraints for operators, investors and other professionals in the industry.

He said though it’s a standard and easy annual procedure to classify and update hotels globally, for the last 20 years Nigeria hasn’t witnessed this.

“This is because transporters make the first contact with tourists and visitors and know the best hotels around. He said the review of existing laws should take such associations in Nigeria into consideration.

The NIHOTOUR boss said the institute is not only interested in producing quality manpower for the industry it is also concerned about legislations that will help the personnel operate optimally in their areas of specialization.

Responding, the Chairman, Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Justice Umaru Kalgo commended Dantata’s initiative describing it as timely. “Tourism and hospitality as a country-wide and international business deserves modern and robust legislation.”

Justice Kalgo assured NIHOUTOR of the readiness of his Commission to partner with the Institute to review existing tourism and hospitality legislations and make appropriate recommendations.

Also speaking, a Commissioner in the Law Reform Commission and former Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters, Professor Osariemen  Osunbor expressed happiness at the visit and enjoined the Institute to expedite action on the proposal considering the economic importance of the industry to Nigerians.