Runsewe advocates Executive Council experience for future FTAN’s Presidents

The immediate Director General of the National Council for Art and Culture, NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe, has tasked the new leadership of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, FTAN, to always ensure that anybody vying for the President of the Federation in the future must have held prior positions in different capacities in the Executive Council and not just aiming to come and contest for the President.

Runsewe, who was also the former DG of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, now Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, NTDA, also noted the need for attitudinal change in FTAN by setting standards that will guide and unite the Federation and all its all federating associations as well as every stakeholder in the tourism sector.

Speaking at the ongoing FTAN Retreat in Abuja, with the theme: One Federation, One vision: Aligning for the Actualisation of Nigerian Tourism Vision – Implication for Unity and Collaboration, he called on FTAN members to collaborate instead of competing to move the tourism industry forward.

The former DG decried the country’s non participation in international exhibitions marketing channels like the World Travel Market, ITB Berlin, FITUR in Spain and Arabian Travel Market, ATM, and others, stressing that it is a minus for Nigeria.

 

Runsewe lamented that it is wrong to appoint a person who has not been to major global tourism exhibitions to head government tourism agencies.

He lauded the former President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, NANTA, Mrs Susan Akporiaye, for standing in the gap for Nigeria in the absence of government agencies charged with that responsibilities, by rallying NANTA and others to participate at WTM over the years.

He said tourism is supposed to contribute between eight and nine per cent to the country’s GDP if allowed. This is as he charged FTAN to take the lead as the tourism driver and distinguish their roles from that of government appointees.

The former NCAC boss also tasked FTAN to play major role in developing and promoting Nigerian cultural heritage. He, therefore, called for coordination, effective communication, regular meetings and retreats to sustain the Federation’s professional integrity.

He decried the recent unfortunate Ibom Air incident and those offering Comfort Emmanson jobs and financial rewards as well as ambassadorial position, noting that they are passing the wrong message by their offerings.

While lauding FTAN for bringing Tourism Transformation Movement, TTM, into tourism, Runsewe said transformation in the tourism sector is long overdue. He called for the various components of tourism organisations to fit in appropriately and function effectively for the sector to attain its envisaged destination.