Hajia Abdul who made this call in an exclusive interview with Trbiune Tourism Magazine (TTM) said ‘Tour operations in this country is not only lucrative and beneficial to the nation and economy, but its blossoming is being bedevilled by the lack of clear-cut legal instructions and fundamental policy that can regulate the sector and set it apart from the invasions of quacks and non professionals who seem to have hijacked the trade.”
She pointed out “we are a country that is blessed with well trained and professional certified tour operators who have both local and international exposures and those who are well versed in the art of development tour packaging procedure and practices. But our business is being hampered by the absence of legal framework which is robust enough to sanitise the sector and drive away the interlopers who are just not only out to fleece unsuspecting clients of their money but render and offer parlous tour conduct”
Hajia Abdul said “At this point in the economic history of Nigeria, when the nation is considering tourism as an alternate source of revenue, it behoves the government to lay the fundamental structure which are needed and necessary for the germination and proper rooting of tourism sector for us to arrive at the desirable point of success”.
She pointed out”Tour operation is the soul of the tourism sector. Our desire at getting the best out of tourism depends on how best we regulate, organise, and monitor the tour operation section and how diligent and efficient the tour operators are.”
Hajia Abdul said “Tour operators are part of the impression managers of the country. The way a tour company or tour operator conducts the tour and interacts with the tourists can make and mar that country in the sensibilities of the tourists. it is either the tour is well packaged and exciting which will encourage the tourists either to come back or tell others to visit or go out with bad memories and spread the negative impression all over. “
She revealed “Nigeria cannot afford to leave the tour packaging and operation open as an all-comers field without legalization and regulation. It is like leaving the oil sector free or our territorial water space for the pirates. This will not augur well for the drive at making Nigeria a desirable tourism country good enough to attract foreign tourists and also for building our nation”.
and then