Imo to Partner FTAN to Promote Tourism

Imo to Partner FTAN to Promote Tourism

Imo State Government has declared its readiness to partner the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN ) to promote tourism in the state.

Imo State Commissioner for Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts, Mazi Uche Ohia, made the declaration in his office when the South East Council of FTAN paid him a visit. The  Commissioner said, "Imo State is engaging in strategic partnerships with stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industry to grow and promote the sector; you have come at a time when the emphasis of engagement of the Imo State Government in tourism is strategic partnership. The Federation of Tourism Associations is a strategic partner and we shall collaborate and cooperate with you"

The Federation, led by its Vice President-elect for South East Nigeria, Ogunyemi Odunayo, was in Owerri to request the Imo State Commissioner for Tourism to attend the inauguration of its newly elected officers for South East Council.

Mazi Ohia congratulated Mr Ogunyemi Odunayo and other members of the Executive Council with him on their victories at the federation's elections and expressed happiness at the peaceful transition of authority of the federation.. He thanked the federation "for arranging for the inauguration to take place in Imo State", saying "we encourage that more events of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria be brought to Imo as we are blessed with tourism assets and our doors are open".

Commissioner Ohia further noted that "the tourism industry is going through tough times occasioned by global health issues and insecurity". He assured, however, that "Imo State Government is working hard to ensure that the security architecture in the state is strengthened irrespective of the flashes of insecurity affecting the entire country".

Speaking earlier, the Vice President-elect of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, South East Council, Mr Ogunyemi Odunayo, said they came to invite the Commissioner and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts to the inauguration of the newly elected officers of the federation taking place on November 2, 2021, at Oxygen Holiday Hotel & Resort, Owerri. Odunayo noted that they brought the inauguration to Imo State because Owerri is the tourism hub of South East Nigeria. He said FTAN had 23 affiliates adding that the national President of the Federation as well as some Commissioners of Tourism in the 36 states of Nigeria would be at the event.
He gave an assurance that FTAN would love to partner the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts to shore up the internally generated revenue of Imo State.

The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria is made up of 23 associations of operators in all the value chains in Tourism and Hospitality.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts, Sir T.U.C Nwokonkwo; Heads of Departments of the Ministry; and the State Coordinators of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria and its officers in the South East Zone were present during the visit.

written by

Ben Uwakwe