The Nigeria Association of Tour Operator (NATOP) has continued to give practical meaning to domestic tourism consciousness in Nigeria through different events and the recent was the celebration of 2017 World Tourism Day celebration in style.
This year’s edition mobilized young tourism entrepreneurs to an exciting moment on the Lagos waterfront where NATOP hosted members, tourism and travel journalists and other stakeholders and enthusiasts to a boat cruise of Lagos waterways overlooking different famous districts and landscapes that kissed the lagoon and beach.
It was a resounding fun and amusement all the way, flagging off the boat cruise from the famous Tarzan jetty at the lekki axis of the Lagoon front with few hours cruising and site seeing of famous iconic buildings on the marina, Apapa Whart, Iddo Terminus and the adjourning ottu market among other places.
Also the cruise tour took participants at WTD celebration to a beach house which can conveniently host a family or group on holiday, honeymoon, retreat or a beach party.
The team took time out to visit the Oba Fayai Akinwunmi of Ilashe, an Island on the Lagos waterfront sandwished by the lagoon on one side and beach on the other side.
Oba Akinwunmi who welcomed the NATOP team and other tourists, who joined in the celebration of the WTD, thanked the association for identifying, exploring and giving relevance to custodian of revere tourists destination and water based leisure-friendly area in Lagos State.
According to the royal father, the step taken by the association is what we expect and we think their steps are in the right direction. We are happy to welcome you to Ilashe and will implore you to explore all the wonders of leisure hospitality that abound in our land.
“ Many tourists have been coming to Ilashe to have fun and our show of hospitality have been making them to make a loyal return, not because of great scenery and ambiance alone but also because of the safety and friendly attitude of our people who have created an enabling environment for tourists and visitors to relax.
“ I must commend you visit to Ilashe because the formation of team is not only going to bring more domestic and foreign tourists and visitors to our land, but it would also help to promote and package it to the outside world.”
Oba Akinwunmi, however gave the team a royal blessing, wishing them God’s protection and blessing in their business. According to him, “What you are doing is a way of not only activating a new way of generating revenue for your business but also a patriotic way of helping the government because they cannot do it alone.
He also prayed for the unity and coexistence of the diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria, saying it is in our diversity that we can jointly develop and grow the economy of Nigeria for the benefit of all.
After leaving the shore of Ileshe, the cruise boat took the team to the Inagbe Beach Resort and Leisure enclave, leisure Eldorado tucked in a magnificent island border by a stretch of Lagoon and Lagos beach front.
At Inagbe, it was a fun filled day, full of life, entertainment, dance and varieties to eat and drink, and also feed the eyes with, but one regret most of the team members complain about was that time was short. Most of them want more of the Inagbe, which they could not get because it was getting dark and some of the participants have to travel back to other states.
Speaking at one of the stops during the cruise, the President of Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), Mr Nkereuwen Onung said the promotion of domestic tourism in Nigeria is a new line of passion and commitment the association has continued to develop as individual and as a group.
It is our core responsibility as the drivers of the tourism and travel industry to live by best standards attained internationally through our domestic offerings to making our business thrive.
NATOP, in the last three years has dedicated every world Tourism Day celebration to repositioning, reawaking and encouraging young tour operators who are the future of the industry to take up the baton at an earlier stage so as to paint a big picture of tourism consciousness in Nigerians.
“ We have thousands of beautiful tourist sites and destinations across the 36 states of Nigeria and Abuja, which a lot of people don’t know let alone have the privilege to visit, so it is our responsibility to explore, build contents around and package them for domestic tourists to buy, and in extension attract foreign exchange and visitors.
“I commend you guys because you are the future of the tourism industry and from your commitment and dedication, I am optimistic we will get to the promise land of tourism, where all the untapped rich potential of the industry will be given the desired attention by the government.
From our part as the core driver of the tourism industry, we will continue to set the pace in promoting the core value and trend that will reposition our domestic tourism across the country.” Onung added.
and then