EcoTour Adventures: Enhancing the Skills of Ekiti’s Travel Guides and Operators

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Tourism is set to train tour operators and tour guides in the state of Ekiti.

This initiative is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to boosting the tourism sector and fostering economic growth.

The EcoGenesis Incubator Series, a sustainable tourism entrepreneurship program, will be held on the 31st of March and the 1st of April 2024.

The event is being hosted by the Ekiti State Bureau for Tourism Development and is specifically designed to target residents of tourist host communities, including women, youths, and small cottage services that contribute to the overall destination experiences for visitors.

The EcoGenesis Incubator Series is a part of a larger effort to enhance the capacity of host community tourism and hospitality operators.

According to the Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade-John, “Tour operators and tour guides are central to overall destination experiences of tourists, both domestic and inbound tourists.”

NIHOTOUR’s Director General, Nura Sani Kangiwa, emphasized the importance of tour operators and guides, stating that they are the driving force behind the tourism push and pull factors in host communities.

He added that it is the industry actions of these professionals that determine tourists’ arrivals and receipts in these destinations.

The EcoGenesis Incubator Series is a dynamic platform that aims to encourage innovation and drive economic empowerment in tourism host communities and destinations.

By providing basic training, retraining, and upskilling of personnel working in the sector, the government is laying the foundation for sustainable tourism development and poverty alleviation across Nigeria.

As the EcoGenesis Incubator Series continues to make strides in empowering tour operators and guides in various regions, the future of Nigeria’s tourism industry looks promising, with a renewed focus on sustainable growth and economic revival.