By Ude Ogbonnaya Israel
The Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy in Nigeria Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa has promised to further engage key players in the tourism industry in addressing among others the registration and licensing concerns.
The Minister who made the pledge during a sectoral meeting with tourism and hospitality stakeholders on Friday at Abuja insisted that all parties should however expect reforms and concession that will follow the conversations.
“We will sit down with main players to look at the issues again, and come up with something. I want everyone in this room to leave here with the mindset of adjusting , the government will shift ground, you too the industry players will shift ground”, the Minister said.
Barrister Musawa maintained this position after listening to the concerns and positions of different stakeholders on the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) approach to implement its 2022 Act on some Lagos hotels in June.
Recall that NIHOTOUR’s operations in Lagos, and indeed nationwide, were later temporarily suspended by the Minister to allow for a more consultative stakeholder engagement process to address inconsistencies in the NIHOTOUR Act 2022 for a more welcomed approach.
In his comment, the National President Nigeria Hotel Association (NHA ) commended the Minister for her intervention without which the issue will remain unresolved given the alarm and concerns raised by hoteliers in different parts of the country especially those from Lagos.
He advised NIHOTOUR DG to be on his lane and restrict his activities to not just the core provisions of the Act, but also do that with close or direct contact with leadership of the sector for guidance on how best to achieve its aim.
In his address the person overseeing the office of the acting Director National Tourism Development Agency (NTDA) Richard Ovie raised key concerns of NIHOTOUR operations to include multiple standards, multiple taxation and duplication of functions.
He recommended a robust collaboration of stakeholders, reworking of NIHOTOUR regulations 2025, establishment of technical committe to explain specific roles, review of NIHOTOUR fees and charges; insisting the current operation of the NIHOTOUR are not aligned with the President Tinubu Hope Agenda.
Similarly the President of Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) Dr. Aliyu Badaki in his address argued that certain provisions in the NIHOTOUR Act 2022 are inconsistent with global standards.
He faulted the body language of NIHOTOUR especially in neglecting critical stakeholder like FTAN in the implementation exercise urging them to retrace going further.
In his response the Director General of National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Dr. Abisoye Fagade said he is happy that their actions have at least stirred a conversation like this to champion the course for progress.
He insisted that they are still working within the confines of the Acts and he want other stakeholders to give him listening ear as he want to do the right thing.
In his address the Chairman Board of Trustee of FTAN Alhaji Munzali Dantata who chaired the Sectoral Meeting anchoring his wealth of experience in the industry emphasized the need to look inwards, engage critical stakeholders to make more money.
