Plateau govt to host NATOP 2018 AGM

ONE of the Nigerian leading tourism destinations, Plateau State will be showcasing its tourism potential to a team of tour operators and travel Journalists in a bid to re-establish its position as the home of peace and tourism.

This is coming on the heel of the preparation of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) holding its AGM and the first the Northern zone of Nigeria.

The previous AGM were held in Lagos and in Calabar respectively. So Plateau State has the right as the first event outside the South of the country by NATOP. It is expected that the next AGM will be held also in another part of Nigeria.

The President of the Association Mr Nkereuwem Onung said that the association made the choice of Jos to reinforce the fact that Plateau State is safe for tourism activities and NATOP needs to discover and expose new locations to tour professionals.

“Nigeria is blessed and the state is so rich in tourism assets, which we should start re-positioning Plateau State as a way of growing tourism industry in Nigeria.”

Onung who was speaking at a reception hosted for a team of NATOP executives on a pre event visit to Jos, recently said the association is changing the narrative of exploring and marketing tourism sites in Nigeria.

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According to the Commissioner of Tourism Mrs Tamukat Weli in her speech told the NATOP President that Plateau State is ready to host the biggest tourism experts in Nigeria and will showcase the best of the culture and hospitality of the state.

Also the Special Adviser to Governor on Tourism, Mr John Likita Best praised NATOP as a forward looking association that has come at the right time to support the efforts of the government and people of Plateau state.

The 2018 AGM is an elective AGM and comes after a very successful year where it successfully hosted a world Tourism Day boat cruise on the Lagos Lagoon and a tour of Epe in Lagos.  As part of the 2018 AGM, there will be a tour of plateau on the 26th before the AGM on the 27th at Hill Station Hotel.

The event will begin on the March 26 with a-day city tour of Jos and its environs. It is a ground-breaking event, which among others will celebrate the speedy growth and success of tourism in nation building and the Plateau State tourism’s achievement, to position itself as a major tourism destination in Nigeria including the NATOP’s contribution to these successes.

The theme for this year’s Tourism Conference is ‘Security Challenges and Promotion of Tourism in Nigeria. However, a host of seasoned speakers, stakeholders, captain and practitioners in the industry have been invited to the event.

NATOP is the national body for all tour operators and those engaged in allied services. It is also devoted to developmental issues in the areas of policies and advocacies, promotion and marketing as well as development of tourist destinations and attractions while it also seeks for creating enabling environment and operating conditions for the business of its members to thrive and engage in activities/events that are geared at adding value to the Nigerian society.