The Director General of the the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR, Dr Abisoye Fagade has addressed misconceptions about the Institute’s Act, stating that it is meant to protect Nigerians, reform the sector and help the industry to grow.
Dr. Fagade stated that with the Act, the industry is standing on solid foundation that will make the sector grow.
Speaking during a press conference in Lagos, Fagade emphasised that the industry must move forward, stressing that there is no reforms without enforcement.
The DG clarified that the Minister only suspended enforcement of the Act and not the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, adding that nobody can stop or suspend the law of the country.
He said NIHOTOUR is enforcing compliance in the industry with a human face and is ready to negotiate with the operators on acceptable fees based on size of the outfit and not to exploit them.
The DG restated that everybody in the tourism industry must be registered, warning that nobody can stop the sector from growing.
According to him, NIHOTOUR is doing its works within the confines of the law and will not allow one sector to kill the dream of the value chain.
He pointed out that this is the time to fund tourism the way other sectors are funded.
The NIHOTOUR boss said HMO, insurance in hospitality industry is a must for the staff.
He disclosed that the agency is planning to build a big tourism institute in the country in partnership with Qatar.
The DG explained that: ” NIHOTOUR is standing today on a sound foundation, a foundation that will help the industry to thrive. A foundation that will help the craft to make the most of what they are doing”.
What i have done so far in that office is to give it a bit of strength. Tourism is the art of capturing opportunities in everything we do in areas of Medical tourism, religious tourism, cultural tourism, educational tourism and others”.
He said the agency has a lot to do Iike in the areas of casualisation, how foreign firms over use their Nigerian staff as slaves, especially how the Chinese bring a school certificate holder from China and put them over highly educated Nigerians and others.
He maintained that these are all the things NIHOTOUR is set out to regulate.
