The Managing Director, Glossary Art, Abuja, Samuel Usen, said on Monday that tourism was a pivotal factor in efforts to tackle Nigeria?s myriad challenges to achieve sustainable economic growth.
Usen said in Abuja that tourism would assist the nation to develop economically, politically and socially.
According to him, in countries where tourism is striving well, it accounts for a large chunk of the country?s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Nigeria?s economy can be made viable if tourism is properly developed and the security challenges currently facing the country will be a thing of the past,?? he said.
He urged the Federal Government to view tourism as one of the sectors that could be used to diversify Nigeria’s economy and tackle unemployment.
“The Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, outline a well-articulated tourism development programme aimed at developing the country?s tourism sector through private sector-led inclusive growth strategy,?? Usen said.
He, however, stressed that for Nigeria to achieve sustainable tourism growth, tangible efforts should be made to develop hotels in the country in line with international best practices.
“Hotels, monuments, tourist sites are key element of tourism that must be developed to attract tourists.
?Registration and classification of hotel is a major factor in the development of the sector,? he said.
