NIHOTOUR D-G tasks media on tourism devt.

By Priscilla Osaje

Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Director-General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR’), has urged the media to partner with relevant stakeholders to work out sustainable strategies for tourism development in the country.

Kangiwa gave the advice on Friday at the Capacity Building Programme for Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism ( ANJET) in Abuja.

The programme was part of the activities in commemorating the 2023 Gastronomy Festival with the theme titled “Best practices for Journalists Reporting of Tourism Destination’’

Kangiwa said that the programme was to bring stakeholders and media together to work out all the necessary strategies needed to move tourism to a sustainable level.

He said that the media and sector players had been harmonising for the best tourism development, but they had yet to get it right.

“It is by meeting with the media that we think we can get it right, because they are closer to the grassroots than we the administrators.

“The media tells us the yarning of the people, as well as the best way to go about implementing the policy that will suit the practitioners in the sector.

“At the end of this programme, all the stakeholders will know and feel the benefits of this interaction.”

In his key note address, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director -General, National Council for Art and Culture ( NCAC), stressed the need to bridge communication gap between the public sector and private sector.

Runsewe, who delivered a lecture titled “Tourism Communication: ‘Bridging the Public and Private Sector Communication Gap’’ said bridging communication gap would drive a sustainable socio-economic development of the country.

He said ANJET had contributed to the development of the country through its reportage, urging its members to set agenda for tourism development.

According to him, ANJET and other relevant media professionals need to work with stakeholders to identify and promote tourists’ destination in Nigeria.

“The duty of the public sector is to give power to the private sector, in a way of donating buses to tour operators, ANJET among others.

“The biggest secret on the development of tourism and culture is the media. It is the role of the media to inform and educate government on what it ought to know,’’ he said.

In his remarks, Mr Peter Igho, a renowned media practitioner, who spoke on the role of media, urged the media to promote Nigeria as a tourists’ destination.

He added that promoting the industry would aid the growth and development of the sector to a greater height.

Dr David Dogo, former Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), who spoke on journalism code of ethics, urged the media practitioners adhere strictly to the ethics of their profession.

According to him, ethics guide a journalist to ensure certain things are morally done right.

He added that true professional journalism would always project Nigeria’s image positively as well as promoting and marketing tourists’ destination in the country .

Dogo urged the media to provide information on the nation’s destination by using different media platforms especially social media.

Also, President of ANJET, Mr Victor Eze, commended NIHOTOUR for organising the training programme, described the programme as apt for tourism development.

 

(NAN)