By Jimoh Babatunde

Plans by the  Federal Government of Nigeria to float  a Tourism Development Fund, as one of the steps aimed at tackling paucity of funds in the sector  has been described as the  best option to funding tourism projects much as the industry is basically private sector’s inclined and entirely business oriented. Dr. Franklin Adejuwon, a Sustainable Tourism Expert,  made this assertion while reacting to the statements credited to the  Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Mrs. Nkechi Ejele, that President Muhammadu Buhari  has  advised that they  should establish Tourism Development Fund to help in the growth of the sector.

Tourism site

Adejuwon noted that the establishment of the TDF should be initiated by government as part of the stimulant for the development of the Tourism Industry but government should  have no reason whatsoever to controlling,managing and expending the fund.

“Though to those of us in the industry the TDF initiative still remains the best option to funding tourism projects much as the industry is basically private sector,s inclined and entirely business oriented .

“Government is merely to stimulate and facilitate by providing excellent enabling environment for investment such as very attractive and soft business policies which we initiated in the eighties in Lagos State through the establishment of the first ever Tourism Policy.”

The Former Minister said the policy was  replicated at the Federal level when the Presidential Council on Tourism under President Obasanjo initiated the Tourism Development Fund in 20003.

Adejuwon argued that since the tourism industry is an amalgam of several private business sectors such as hotels,resorts,restaurants,holiday facilities,various transportation system and entertainment sector among others, then they should be the main contributors of the tourism fund and indeed the spender on long run also.

He said based on that fact, the private sector  remains the most relevant factor to constitute or form the main body that will administer  control on their contributions. Adejuwon added that the Presidential Council on Tourism under  President Obasanjo’s tenure was very elaborate on  the formulation and implementation of the TDF.

He called on the ministry officials  not to distort facts in order to satisfy their  inordinate ambition, “what is paramount and must be taken into serious consideration is that the ministry has no business in setting up the TDF. “The ministry is absolutely incompetent and not only dearth in knowledgeable personnel but also not credit worthy as records show today to be involved in such a national exercise which requires probity, financial credence and know how.”

Tourism site

Adejuwon said if the government is interested in the tourism sector that the  Presidency should endeavour to set up a competent committee to that will include  representative of relevant tourism and hospitality sector such as board of airlines and Hotel Association of Nigeria among others. He said adopting this approach may be the best way the tourism development fund initiative can enjoy and sustain the confidence of the contributors.

Adejuwon noted that the Presidency should compel the ministry to submit to it  the main hard copy of the Presidential Council on Tourism  conclusion as well as the UNDP / UNWTO  initiated National Tourism Master on the subject matter and other tourism issues for a review and understanding of the present government by a competent body before going a head with any plan on the tourism industry.