2014 World Tourism Day; overnment Commitment Towards Tourism Is Not Enough-FTAN

Generally, tourism is one enterprise that is public sector engineered and private sector driven in which if well natured through the contributions of local communities in active partnership with the State Government, it will provide remedies for the scourge of youth unemployment in Imo State.
This informed the basis for this year’s World Tourism Day celebration held last Friday at the Pastoral Centre Owerri, with the theme; “Tourism And Community Development”, an event organized by the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigerian (FTAN) Imo State Chapter, an umbrella body that incorporates all private sector travel and tour.
In his opening remark, ex-vice President of FTAN, south east, Chief Charles Okoroafor mni, noted with this may that the commitment of the Nigerian Government both the past and present towards the growth of tourism leaves much to be desired.
He added that Nigeria is one of the most abundantly endowed countries in terms of natural tourism treasure, but globally Nigeria is raked at the bottom of tourism ladder in the World.
In a welcome address, the Imo State Chairman of FTAN, Dr. Godfrey Nwakanobi, revealed that this year’s theme underscores the potentials of tourism development adding that tourism as a sector can only achieve success if it engages the local population by contributing through social value participation.
Dr. Godfrey Nwakanobi assured that the Imo State Chapter of FTAN with its parade of experts and professionals will partner with the State Government in the development and promotion of tourism for an appreciable economic growth.
Delivering on the lecture titled;”Tourism and Community Development”, Professor CIC Okoli stressed that the lack of tourism data base has informed the reasons for the absence of a reliable statistic analysis for Nigeria’s tourism sector, he noted that stringent measures needs to be place to ensure proper documentation.
During an interactive session, Chairman of the occasion Chief Charles Okoroafor mni, urged the youth to cease the opportunity abound in the tourism sector, he charged the Imo State Police Command to take serious action on the happenings of Hotels, Night clubs and to also provider special policing for tourist in Imo State.
Highpoint of the event was the FTAN awards for excellence given to Chief Vitalis Ajumbe, Hon. Barr Lady Ugochi Nnanna Okoro and Mr. Frank Nneji for their individual contributions towards the upliftment of culture and tourism in Imo State.