…Promises To Work Harder In 2017
…Fixes Eminent Persons Award For December 15
The National President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) Bankole Bernard has stated that the development of the aviation industry would benefit the tourism sector.
Bernard stated that the association would organise Eminent Persons Award on December 15, 2016 to honour those, who have contributed immensely to the development of the travel industry, adding that NANTA has gotten commitment from stakeholders to support the programme.
This is just as he appealed to the Federal Government to give Tourism Industry the right and necessary attention.
Bernard, who stated these in a chat with select journalists in Lagos today ,posited that aviation and tourism are inseparable, adding that if the Federal Government do the needful in the aviation sector , it would definitely rub off on the Tourism sector.
He called on the Federal Government to take decisive steps to address the challenges in the aviation industry ,adding that the challenges ranging from decaying infrastructure at airports, incessant scarcity of aviation fuel, exit of international airlines from Nigeria ,the trapped funds of the airline operating in the country, dwindling fortunes of domestic airlines and other issues.
These problems, he argued have been there for years, adding that they did not start today and that NANTA will not keep quiet but will continue to talk about these issues in 2017.
According to him, “NANTA can speak up on issues without holding back on government policy affecting the aviation industry. If we continue to keep quiet all of us will continue to live in a frustrated industry. We need to speak out in 2017on anything that is wrong with the industry.”
The President disclosed that he met with the Minister of Aviation, State, Senator Hadi Sirika severally on issues affecting the aviation industry and how to address the challenges, adding that these meetings happened because according to him NANTA was the only voice that seems to be the only voice saying the right thing.
The interactions , he also stated was made possible due to the favourable reports of the activities of the travel agency body, its position on issues affecting the aviation industry by the media.
On planned concession of the four major airports; Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, Bernard stated NANTA was not against making the concession of the airports by the Federal Government a private sector driven but that what the body is saying is that Nigerians must get value for airports when concessioned .
He said that in 2017, NANTA would not only put government on its toes and that it would also ensure that the aviation industry gets it desired attention from the Federal Government.
In his words, “In 2017 NANTA is going to work like it has never worked before and we are going to let our industry get relevance that it has been lacking before now. When the Federal Government gets aviation right, they will move into tourism.”
The NANTA boss also called on the Federal Government to be given attention in view of the huge benefits that Nigeria and Nigerians would drive from it .
According to him, “Tourism needs to be given the right attention so that we can maximise the benefits from it. If we develop aviation, tourism will benefit from it. Majority of the tourists who come to Nigeria for tourism come by air.
