Nigeria’s struggle with insecurity should not deter travel operators from promoting the country as a top travel destination, according to Tourism Minister Lola Ade-John.
At the National Association of Tour Operators’ eighth annual general meeting (NATOP) on Thursday in Ilorin, Ms. Ade-John made the appeal.
“This meeting here helps us to express what we have in Nigeria,” the woman stated. It is not what we should be creating that we are not creating. Ignore Nigeria’s security dilemma. Every nation faces security challenges. Don’t let the insecurity issue stop you from advocating for Nigeria.
“And you ought to consider boosting experiences when marketing our beloved country. Nigeria welcomes those who wish to observe our climate. It is an encounter. Our stunning beaches feature mangroves. Why aren’t we making sales of these items? To draw tourists, we ought to quit whining about the government and start putting together our own experiences.
“We offer experiences that can be customized for visitors from the 774 local government areas; these include communities with customs and stories that can be packaged into tours.”
Additionally, Ms. Ade-John counseled Nigerians to talk well of their nation.
“Instead of de-marketing our nation, we ought to talk positively about this stunning place. The minister emphasized, “We are already working with the National Orientation Agency to help people understand the importance of having pride in our nation and presenting a favorable image of it.
“Now is the moment to instill in us the pride that Nigeria represents,” Ms. Ade-John continued. We must sell our nation. I would like to see more investors in the market. I would like to see more travel businesses promoting Nigeria at the airports.
