Institute for Tourism Professionals convokes investiture, symposium

THE only institute in Nigeria   saddled  with the legal authority to confer professionalism on  any sectoral player, entity, body, corporate organisations and  also  accredit education institutions  and  certify   all branches of tourism , the  Institute for Tourism Professional, ITP last  Thursday  held the first National Tourism Symposium.

The event held at Eko Hotel and Suites with the theme ‘Tourism; Passport to Social and Economic emancipation in Africa “recorded the attendance of professionals in the industry who listened to and gained from the researched and statistics illustrative paper presented by Mrs Kehinde Kamison, Managng Director/Chief Executive Officer , Sweet Sensation quick Service Restaurant and president, association of Fast Food Confectioners of Nigeria.

Chief Abiodun Odunsanwo, President , Institute for Tourism Professionals in Nigeria said “We are in time of great changes in the tourism sector . Global tourism is about professionalisation of the sector to achieve the international benchmark of  quality , standard and efficiency .  If Nigeria will be counted among the tourism world and  love to have a big chunk of the share of the global tourism revenue , it must take professionalism in the sector serious . and that is why we have this institute saddled with the task of ensuring that professionalism reigns in the industry.

In her  paper , Mrs Kamison  highlighted the potent power of tourism , the global impact of tourism in poverty alleviation , employment generation , wealth stimulator , revenue cultivator and socio economic development .

She did a statistical comparison of Nigeria tourism potentialities and some notable countries and came to the conclusion that Nigeria has a lot to explore when it comes to tourism potentialities

Mrs Kamson emphasised  the imperative of professionalism in the tourism sector in Nigeria adding that , professionalism would ensure compliance with the ethics , standards , quality and near perfect customers’ relations.

She commended the management of the Institute for its strident efforts at ensuring that Nigeria tourism sector is professionalised and for organising the first ever National Tourism Symposium .

At the interactive session , Prince Adekunle Luquman Adeyemo, who represented Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye, President La Campagne Tropicana Beach, pointed out “The tourism sector has a lot to gain from professionalism . It is the tonic for business blossoming and the nerve centre of service.On behalf of the President of La Campagne Tropicana Beach  Resort  commend the template of excellence being laid by ITP.”

Copping the intellectually and commercially business-oriented event  was the investiture and decoration of some Nigerians  who have distinguished themselves in the industry by  their adherence to professional ethics and those who have passed the required examinations and tests  as Fellow and Members of the institute.

According to Chief  Odusanwo “ The Institute will never lower the banner of excellence . We are poised to raise Nigeria standard of service far above the benchmark  of the code so that Nigeria will once become a scale of reference at the international level. That is our goal and our target.”