Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

‘Nigeria’s tourism is in dire straits’ by Adesanmi

By Tobi Awodipe
06 May 2017   |   5:20 am
The poor state of tourism was once again brought to the fore this week, as Dubai Afrika unveiled its latest ambassador, ace footballer, Odion Ighalo in Lagos during the week.

Representative of DubaiAfrika.com Ambassador, Odion Ighalo, Owolabi Oludare (left); Creative Director, DubaiAfrika.com, Tolu Adesanmi; Regional Director, Africa, BEN TV, Lanre Ijaola; and Special Assistant to Lagos State Speaker of the House of Assembly, Opeyemi Oketuyi, during a press conference on Dubai Group Tour with Odion Ighalo, in Lagos.Photo: TOBI AWODIPE

The poor state of tourism was once again brought to the fore this week, as Dubai Afrika unveiled its latest ambassador, ace footballer, Odion Ighalo in Lagos during the week.

Calling on government to stabilise the economy and enact policies that will boost the sector, the creative director of the Travel agency, Tolulope Adesanmi lamented Nigeria’s failure to maximise its tourism potentials, which would have boosted the economy and created new jobs.

Fielding questions from journalists, he revealed that sports and entertainment are the two major tools for promoting tourism, which they have effectively tapped into.

According to Adesanmi, last year his organisation worked with many big names at different points, including Falz, The Bad Guy; actresses Mercy Aigbe-Gentry and Dayo Amusan, all in a bid to promote and increase tourism awareness among Nigerians.

According to the creative director, his outfit would be going to Dubai this year with Ighalo and highlights of the trip would include beach soccer, picnic, daily tours and sight-seeing, music concert and a one in a lifetime opportunity for a personal meet and greet with the international football star.

He called on private and corporate bodies, as well as travel companies to partner his agency to promote tourism, adding that to accommodate everyone, two packages would be available, luxury and regular.

Affirming that local acts would be on hand to thrill fun seekers, Adesanmi reiterated that the tour would not only be of benefit to many fans of the football star, but would be replicated in the country before the year ends.

Special Assistant to Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker on New Media, Opeyemi Oretuyi commending organisers disclosed that Lagos is ready to support Dubai Afrika. He urged others to emulate the company by promoting and exporting Nigerian culture across the world.

Oretuyi noted that investment in tourism by government would open up opportunities for both local and foreign investors, which would have multiplier effects on the economy.

Adesanmi disclosed that certain percentage of profit realized from the trip would go to organisation’s sickle cell foundation and the Jude Ighalo Orphanage Home both in Lagos.

0 Comments